“The Constitution is the guide which I never will abandon.”   - George Washington, 1795

“He who saves his country does not violate any law.” - Donald J. Trump, 2025

Over a cold Valentine's Day weekend, which for sports fans culminated at the Daytona 500, attended by President Trump, the President posted the above tweet. Now, politicians say many things and who knows what the President’s chaotic communications style intends. Many people may not have heard about this post, or may not think it that big a deal. But the signees of this letter are all veterans (or their spouses) who have sworn an oath to “support and defend the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic.” For us, this post is not so easily dismissed. 

Regardless of the President’s intent, some of his most fervent supporters will interpret that post to take the law into their own hands in order to “save the country.”  What sets this post apart from other political statements is now President Trump has established a pattern.  When his supporters take the law into their own hands, they can be confident that the President will pardon them if they have been arrested and convicted, just like the President let out of jail those J6 protestors who were filmed and subsequently convicted of violently assaulting police officers.  And if the President is going to free those convicted of assaulting police officers in broad daylight on video, it is fair to ask what actions that support his political objectives of “saving the country” President Trump won’t pardon.  

Does the Constitution empower the President, as he suggests in his post, to designate a group of citizens as “outside the law” in order to “save the country?” No, it does not. 

Take this out of the current moment.  Suppose a future Democratic Senate Leader threatens Supreme Court Justices like Senator Schumer did a couple of years ago.  But in this case, the Senator has the support of a Democratic President who has already pardoned Antifa protestors who assaulted a federal judge over a ruling limiting Presidential power.  Is this where we want to go as a country?  Or what if those protestors are threatening Senators who are the deciding convicting votes of an impeached President? Is this where we want to go?   

This letter represents veterans organizing in support of the Constitution. We represent a diverse America across the political spectrum. Many of us have served in countries ruled by dictators, tribal warlords or militias. Is this where we want to go?

This letter is intended for our fellow veterans and their spouses who have also sacrificed in the nation’s service. If you haven’t already, it is time to reach out to old buddies and start talking with each other. While social media is a unique tool, please call or meet with each other and ask “Is this where we want to go?” Next steps will emerge from there.  

Veterans, please sign and get ten other veterans to sign. And start talking.