President Donald Trump’s Saturday afternoon post on Truth Social prompted some critics to equate his remarks with those of historical authoritarian figure Napoleon Bonaparte, labeling him a “dictator.”
Newsweek has contacted the White House via email for a response on Saturday.
Why It Matters
Since his inauguration on January 20, Trump has implemented numerous sweeping reforms through executive actions. Some Democrats and critics of Trump have raised alarms about a potential “constitutional crisis,” alleging that he has exceeded presidential powers and ignored legal limits.
Recent statements from the White House, Vice President JD Vance, and Elon Musk regarding the judiciary and rule of law have stoked concerns among Trump’s detractors, who worry he is extending his influence too far. Before commencing his second term, critics warned that Trump might threaten American democracy.
What To Know
On Saturday afternoon, Trump posted a brief message on Truth Social: “He who saves his Country does not violate any Law.”
This quote has frequently been ascribed to Bonaparte, though its authenticity remains unverified. Bonaparte gained acclaim during the French Revolution by leading military campaigns across Italy and beyond, ultimately declaring himself emperor in 1804, ruling over France for a decade.
The context of Trump’s statement remains unclear.
Meanwhile, his administration faces a barrage of legal challenges regarding federal dismissals and reorganizations. When queried earlier this week about compliance with court rulings that hinder his policy goals, Trump responded, “The answer is I always abide by the courts, always abide by them. And we’ll appeal.”
Statements from the White House, Vance, and Musk have raised red flags among critics, such as Vance’s February 9 social media post declaring: “Judges aren’t allowed to control the executive’s legitimate power.”
Musk has voiced his dissatisfaction with certain court decisions and recently advocated for a “wave of judicial impeachments, not just one.”
Before his presidency, Trump jokingly mentioned he could be a “dictator” on his first day in office, referring to his plans for closing the U.S.-Mexico border and ramping up domestic oil drilling, saying: “No, no, no, other than day one. We’re closing the border and we’re drilling, drilling, drilling. After that, I’m not a dictator.”
AP Photo/Ben Curtis
What People Are Saying
Ed Krassenstein, a prominent critic of Trump with 1 million followers on X, formerly Twitter, commented on Saturday: “This is literally a quote attributed to Napoleon Bonaparte—right before he orchestrated a coup, seized absolute power, and crowned himself Emperor in defiance of democracy. He centralized the government, ruled with total authority, abolished free elections, crushed political opposition, censored the press, and executed over 2,000 prisoners of war. He even reintroduced slavery into the French colonies, undoing the progress of the revolution. This isn’t just history—it’s a warning. Ignore it at your own peril.”
Andrew Fleischman, a lawyer from Georgia, tweeted on Saturday: “This is a quote from Napoleon, describing how he ended democracy in France.”
Aaron Blake, a senior reporter at The Washington Post, wrote in a post on X: “This is a quote often attributed to Napoleon, a dictator.”
Matthew Yglesias, journalist and blogger, commented on X: “Libs: Trump is a lawless dictator. Conservatives: The libs are being hysterical. Trump: I believe I should be a dictator who is above the law, like Napoleon.”
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt stated to reporters on Wednesday: “Many outlets in this room have been fear-mongering people into believing there is a constitutional crisis taking place here at the White House. I’ve been hearing those words a lot lately. But in fact, the real constitutional crisis is taking place within our judicial branch, where district court judges in liberal districts across the country are abusing their power to unilaterally lock President Trump’s basic executive authority.”
The X account “Republicans against Trump” tweeted on Saturday: “Remember when they called us hysterical for correctly pointing out that Donald Trump is a corrupt, un-American wannabe dictator who doesn’t believe in the Constitution or the rule of law?!”
What Happens Next?
Trump is anticipated to confront numerous legal obstacles related to several executive actions. He has previously stated that he will abide by the law.
