Trump the Autocrat Declares He Will Suspend Gasoline Tax

A serious violation of Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution.

Once again, Trump reveals his stupidity. He believes he has the authority to suspend federal gas tax. “I’m going to reduce until the [tax], let me tell you, as soon as this is over with Iran, as soon as it’s over, you’re going to see gasoline and oil drop,” he said from the Oval Office.

I doubt Trump has read the Constitution. Article I, Section 8 enumerates the specific legislative powers granted to Congress, including taxing and borrowing money. Article I gives Congress the sole power to pass legislation. It is Trump’s responsibility to “take care that the laws be faithfully executed,” not create them.

Few social media posts point this out. They seem to think the president is an autocrat and he can dream up and personally enact any law he fancies. Trump has repeatedly violated the Constitution with his executive orders. He has habitually undermined judicial authority, illegally redirected funds without congressional approval, and used the military for issues related to the states.

Here is an exhaustive list of violations.

This is not limited to specific Republicans or Democrats. It is uniparty wide. Prior to Trump’s violations, Barack Obama violated the Constitution with executive orders, domestic surveillance, and his unauthorized invasion of Libya.

The Constitution is irrelevant—and has been for some time.

“We have lost the central premise of federalism—that power should be decentralized to ensure it remains accountable. Yet in every sector—healthcare, education, surveillance, law enforcement, infrastructure—Washington asserts increasing dominance,” writes Larry Johnson.

To restore the Constitution, we must not merely speak of it—we must live it. We must uphold its limits when it is inconvenient. We must defend the rights of others even when we disagree with them. We must model in our conduct the self-government we demand from our institutions. It may take years. But every act of remembrance, resistance, and renewal plants a seed of liberty that will bloom one day.

I agree, although I am skeptical this will happen. In The Federalist No. 39, James Madison explained that in a republic, government “derives all its powers … from the great body of the people.” Unfortunately, the people—dumbed down by public education and mass media—are not only largely ignorant of constitutional law, but also the concept of natural rights, that we are all born with unalienable rights.