The Never-Has-Never-Will Delusion: A Recipe for Unchecked Power

The Trump administration has consistently disregarded traditional norms and ethics, operating on a fundamentally different plane of reality. Their latest mantra – “never has, never will” – is astonishing, declaring that their actions are beyond reproach, no matter how egregious.

This phenomenon is not new; we’ve seen it before in history’s annals. However, this administration’s brazen willingness to declare itself above the law is striking. They essentially say that any action taken by Trump is proper, legal, and ethical simply because it was taken by him. This display of contempt for democratic institutions is a stark reminder that power can corrupt even those who once swore to uphold the law.

Attorney General Todd Blanche’s recent testimony on Meet the Press exemplifies this trend. When asked if he would resist Trump’s demands if they were unethical or illegal, Blanche replied confidently: “The president will never ask me to do something unethical or illegal. He never has. He never will.” This formulation is a deeply disturbing assertion that the administration’s actions are beyond scrutiny.

Saying “never” might be reassuring in some contexts, but when applied to someone who consistently demonstrates a disregard for ethics and the law, it’s akin to an accountant promising not to embezzle funds while boarding his private jet. It ignores the very real concerns about Trump’s behavior.

We know that giving improper orders is something Trump would do. We’ve seen it in his social media posts, where he pressured then-Attorney General Pam Bondi to charge individuals he wanted to punish. His conflicts of interest are among the most flagrant we’ve ever seen from a president. Previous occupants have placed their investments in blind trusts; Trump has done no such thing.

The “never has, never will” defense is a clever way to avoid accountability, but it’s ultimately a losing proposition. We’ve seen this pattern before – in the cases of Trump’s father and him being charged with excluding Black tenants from their apartments, or Trump himself being convicted of falsifying business records in New York.

What’s truly disturbing is how this administration has abandoned all restraint, declaring its actions to be perfectly legal simply because they’re taken by Trump. This departure from previous norms is stark; presidents would at least attempt to argue that their actions were within the bounds of the law. Now, it seems, any action taken by Trump is ipso facto legitimate.

This is a recipe for unchecked power, and it’s a threat to our democracy in ways we can’t yet fully comprehend. As we move forward, it’s essential to recognize this administration’s true nature: one that operates on its own set of rules, where the president’s actions are deemed above reproach simply because they’re taken by him.

We must be vigilant, for this is a moment when the very fabric of our democracy is under threat. We can’t let the “never has, never will” delusion stand unchallenged, lest we sacrifice the rule of law and the principles that have guided us thus far. The stakes are high; it’s time to take action.

The administration’s actions may be brazen, but they’re not unprecedented. We’ve seen this before – in the cases of Nixon, Reagan, and even Clinton. Each had their own brand of authoritarianism, but none went as far as Trump has. It’s a stark reminder that power can corrupt even those who once swore to uphold the law.

As we move forward, it’s essential to recognize the gravity of this situation. We must demand accountability from our elected officials and hold them to the highest standards of ethics and integrity. Anything less is a betrayal of the trust placed in us as citizens.

The “never has, never will” delusion may be a clever tactic for avoiding accountability, but it’s ultimately a losing proposition. We’ll see through it, and we’ll demand justice – not just for the sake of fairness, but for the very fabric of our democracy itself.