Trump’s ‘Catch-Me-If-You-Can’ presidency keeps finding ways around the law

The law prohibits presidents from being depicted on currency if they are still living. However, President Donald Trump's face appears on US coins, despite the Treasury Department using a different law related to commemorative coins. The US has been at war with Iran for over six months, although the administration claims there have been pauses.

Previous presidents from both parties have skirted this requirement, but Trump's approach is unprecedented. Chief Justice John Roberts deemed Trump's removal of part of the White House and construction of a new ballroom "likely unlawful." Yet, construction continues without interruption. Laws necessitate congressional approval for the construction of a triumphal arch near Arlington National Cemetery, but the administration proceeds without waiting.

The law mandates that suspected criminals cannot be executed without a trial; nevertheless, the US military has eliminated several suspected drug vessels in the Caribbean and Pacific. The law states that Congress establishes federal agencies, such as USAID, the US Department of Education, and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

Nonetheless, Trump has attempted to dismantle some of them through attrition or outright deletion. This illustration depicts 2026 Semiquincentennial President Donald J. Trump $1 coins in Washington, D.C., on September 3, 2026. The law dictates that Congress determines how funds should be allocated. Trump's administration disregarded this by discontinuing research funding and aid they disagreed with.

The law forbids the government from entering residences without a judicial warrant. Yet, Immigration and Customs Enforcement has exercised this authority. The law mandates that the Federal Reserve operate independently, but Trump is attempting to coerce the Fed into lowering interest rates, most recently by threatening to cease trade with major partners.

This pattern continues, with a myriad of convoluted legal arguments from the Trump administration, most notably when forced to do so. Despite setbacks in court, the administration persistently seeks ways around the law. A judge ruled that Trump's administration cannot disregard the law by placing his name alongside John F. Kennedy's at the Kennedy Center.

Nevertheless, the administration intends to include it in the building, with an inscription crediting Trump for the refurbishment. Should the administration fail to add his name, it threatens to demolish the entire structure. The act of dismantling buildings that the president should not be able to demolish encapsulates the essence of this presidency. Once something is destroyed, it's gone – regardless of whether the destruction was illicit.