‘Suspending Who?’ Trump Caught Flat-Footed by Question About ‘Suspending Habeas Corpus’
President Donald Trump appeared not to hear or not understand a reporter’s question about possibly “suspending habeas corpus.” In any event, he attempted to foist the inquiry onto Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.
Trump took questions from reporters on Wednesday in the State Dining Room of the White House, where he hosted an “Antifa roundtable.” The president has claimed in recent weeks that Antifa, a catchall term for far-left activists, has been responsible for civil unrest in U.S. cities such as Portland, Oregon. Regarding a phone call Trump had last month with Oregon Governor Tina Kotek, the president said he was taken aback by her insistence that Portland is not the hellscape he has been saying it is.
“I spoke to the governor, she was very nice,” Trump said last month. “But I said, ‘Well wait a minute, am I watching things on television that are different from what’s happening? My people tell me different.'”
On Wednesday, a seemingly MAGA reporter asked Trump, “Have you given any more thought to possibly suspending habeas corpus to not only deal with these insurrectionists across the nation, but also to continue rapidly deporting illegal aliens?”
“Suspending who?” Trump responded.
“Habeas corpus,” came the reply.
“I don’t know,” the president said. “I’d rather leave that to Kristi. What do you think?”
“Sir, I haven’t been part of any discussions on that,” Noem said.
Trump then moved on to a CNN reporter, whom he promptly scolded.
Noem was perhaps not the best person to ask about habeas corpus. Testifying before the Senate back in May, Noem was asked by Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-NH) what habeas corpus is.
The secretary responded, “Well, habeas corpus is a constitutional right that the president has to be able to remove people from this country and suspend their right to–”
At that point, Hassan interrupted to correct Noem.
“Excuse me, habeas corpus is the legal principle that requires that the government provide a public reason for detaining and imprisoning people,” Hasan stated.
Watch above via C-SPAN.
