Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

BumRushDaShow

(151,667 posts)
Fri Mar 21, 2025, 08:06 PM Mar 21

Trump Says He Wasn't the One Who Invoked Alien Enemies Act: 'Other People Handled It'

Source: MEDIAite

Mar 21st, 2025, 7:44 pm


President Donald Trump is pleading ignorance amid questions about his deportations of Venezuelan immigrants to El Salvador. Last week, the Trump administration invoked the 1798 Alien Enemies Act to expedite the deportations of individuals that it claims are violent criminals. The act had only been invoked three times: during the War of 1812 and both world wars. As planes were in the air carrying the migrants out of the country, U.S. District Judge James Boasberg ordered the government to turn the planes around. The Trump administration ignored the order, as its lawyers claimed they did not think it counted because it was verbal and not written.

Before boarding Marine One on Friday, Trump took questions from reporters. Fox News Senior White House Correspondent Peter Doocy asked the president for his reaction to comments by Boasberg in a hearing just hours earlier, where the judge said, “The policy ramifications of this are incredibly troublesome and problematic and concerning.”

“It doesn’t sound like this judge, who the DOJ was arguing with today about the deportation flights, he wants to know why the proclamation was signed ‘in the dark’ – his words – and why people were rushed onto planes,” Doocy said. “Because we wanna get criminals out of our country, number one,” Trump replied. “And I don’t know when it was signed because I didn’t sign it. Other people handled it. But [Secretary of State] Marco Rubio’s done a great job and he wanted them out. And we go along with that. We want to get criminals out of our country.”

Later, CNN’s Erin Burnett struck a skeptical note and held up a copy of the order. “He said he didn’t sign it,” she said. “I’m sorry, that is his signature, right?” “Erin, that is his signature,” replied CNN’s Jeff Zeleny. “And that is in the federal register. And that is where all of these executive orders that the president signs goes. So, they did sign it last weekend. The White House talked about that openly on Saturday evening.”

Read more: https://www.mediaite.com/tv/trump-says-he-wasnt-the-one-who-invoked-alien-enemies-act-other-people-handled-it/



54 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Trump Says He Wasn't the One Who Invoked Alien Enemies Act: 'Other People Handled It' (Original Post) BumRushDaShow Mar 21 OP
Everything is a lie with this freak, time to dump him like yesterdays trash Blues Heron Mar 21 #1
Yeah. He's NEVER the one who does anything. MLWR Mar 21 #2
It is the damn Miller and the AutoPen LiberalArkie Mar 21 #5
"The buck stops somewhere else." -- Donald Trump, a true profile in courage.... n/t xocetaceans Mar 21 #3
Only the president can invoke it, do we have a new President by the name of Muskrat. republianmushroom Mar 21 #4
When he is cornered he just lies. Klarkashton Mar 21 #6
Yes he is a pathological liar, even when it is ludicrous. Irish_Dem Mar 22 #45
I guess President Musk did it neverforget Mar 21 #7
"It wasn't meeeeee" Docreed2003 Mar 21 #8
We want get get criminals out of our country BOSSHOG Mar 21 #9
Let's start with that lying felon on the WH lawn. Justice matters. Mar 21 #23
How about sending him to El Salvador My Friend BOSSHOG Mar 21 #24
Autopen ?? IbogaProject Mar 21 #10
I know nothing coprolite Mar 21 #11
"I know nothing...." Hmmm---has our Crime Minister been demoted..... lastlib Mar 21 #30
/imagine what Trump's response would have been if Biden had seemingly forgotten that he had signed an executive order. mahatmakanejeeves Mar 21 #12
Exactly BumRushDaShow Mar 21 #14
I'm sure someone will come up with a clip showing that he knew about the Act, or Baitball Blogger Mar 21 #13
It's published in the Federal Register - and includes his signature BumRushDaShow Mar 21 #15
LOL! What a fucking clown show! I want to get back to my dimension! Baitball Blogger Mar 21 #16
It's the BumRushDaShow Mar 21 #18
Yep ReRe Mar 22 #41
Pretty soon, he'll use the age old Borat defense: "my wife." AZLD4Candidate Mar 21 #17
He already threw Rubio under the bus! BumRushDaShow Mar 21 #19
Trump... lonely bird Mar 21 #20
As for all turds, their passing will be welcomed. Aussie105 Mar 21 #21
The Trump (mis)administration is disintegrating before our eyes. Aussie105 Mar 21 #22
Logic? Hahahahahahaha! ReRe Mar 22 #42
Trump is blaming supplicant Marco Rubio for signing an EO Trump signed. SunSeeker Mar 21 #25
He should be removed from office immediately for no knowing Bluethroughu Mar 21 #26
Treason is defined very clearly in the Constitution. AmericaUnderSiege Mar 21 #27
This is psycho talk. Other people handled it?? Oh, Marco, your bus is here. flashman13 Mar 21 #28
This is vintage Trump. Lasher Mar 21 #29
Same way musk denied the holocaust. Hitler didn't do it, government employees did. unblock Mar 21 #31
Every accusation is a confession dweller Mar 21 #32
It was the BLAAACK lady's fault....or SLEEPY joe....or barrack HUSSEIN obama...or the email lady did it. Bread and Circuses Mar 21 #33
If Joe Biden erpowers Mar 21 #34
The true mark of the sociopath is they are never responsible for moniss Mar 21 #35
He always does that "I didn't see it, never heard it, don't know anything about them, don't know who that is" , when D. Spaulding Mar 21 #36
And the media Hornedfrog2000 Mar 21 #37
What's his game here? Does he think denial is going to help him? Wiz Imp Mar 22 #38
This document had trump's signature LetMyPeopleVote Mar 22 #39
Am I the only one who has noticed how oddly calm and scripted Trump is these days? Deminpenn Mar 22 #40
Excellent observations Demi. Irish_Dem Mar 22 #46
They cannot babysit him 24/7 Deminpenn Mar 22 #48
It may come to Trump being watched 24/7. Irish_Dem Mar 22 #49
Susie Wildes can always hire Deminpenn Mar 22 #50
Yes, replicate some of that ambiance and atmosphere. Irish_Dem Mar 22 #53
Totally clean paperless desk as well. Made for tv Evolve Dammit Mar 22 #54
"We want to get criminals out of our country." OldBaldy1701E Mar 22 #43
"I was just following orders." Irish_Dem Mar 22 #44
Fucking liar lying camartinwv Mar 22 #47
The buck stops over there somewhere C_U_L8R Mar 22 #51
He only says this because it blew up in their faces FakeNoose Mar 22 #52

MLWR

(300 posts)
2. Yeah. He's NEVER the one who does anything.
Fri Mar 21, 2025, 08:08 PM
Mar 21

It's ALWAYS someone else's fault. You know what? Fuck that.

Docreed2003

(18,139 posts)
8. "It wasn't meeeeee"
Fri Mar 21, 2025, 08:26 PM
Mar 21

The same deflationary bullshit we've had to deal with since his orange ass came down that escalator.

coprolite

(365 posts)
11. I know nothing
Fri Mar 21, 2025, 08:45 PM
Mar 21
Trump replied. “And I don’t know when it was signed because I didn’t sign it. Other people handled it.

Rut roh, maybe someone should check the AutoSign records see who has been signing Trumps name to documents.

lastlib

(25,825 posts)
30. "I know nothing...." Hmmm---has our Crime Minister been demoted.....
Fri Mar 21, 2025, 11:20 PM
Mar 21

...to a sergeant in the German Army?

mahatmakanejeeves

(64,513 posts)
12. /imagine what Trump's response would have been if Biden had seemingly forgotten that he had signed an executive order.
Fri Mar 21, 2025, 08:47 PM
Mar 21
Aaron Reichlin-Melnick
‪@reichlinmelnick.bsky.social‬

Follow
Ummm…

/imagine what Trump’s response would have been if Biden had seemingly forgotten that he had signed an executive order.

March 21, 2025 at 8:09 PM

https://bsky.app/profile/reichlinmelnick.bsky.social/post/3lkwgr54acs2w

‪MeidasTouch‬ ‪@meidastouch.com‬


1h
So Trump is now saying he didn't sign the Alien Enemies Act after originally saying he signed the Alien Enemies Act 🤔

March 21, 2025 at 6:54 PM

https://bsky.app/profile/meidastouch.com/post/3lkwcm6j2e22c

BumRushDaShow

(151,667 posts)
14. Exactly
Fri Mar 21, 2025, 08:49 PM
Mar 21

And every single media outlet would be going 24/7 about it and then would bring in the Sanjay Gupta's of the cable world to "diagnose" why...

Baitball Blogger

(49,900 posts)
13. I'm sure someone will come up with a clip showing that he knew about the Act, or
Fri Mar 21, 2025, 08:47 PM
Mar 21

that he said to a group that it was a priority, which was a signal that means, go beyond the law if you have to.

BumRushDaShow

(151,667 posts)
15. It's published in the Federal Register - and includes his signature
Fri Mar 21, 2025, 08:57 PM
Mar 21
Invocation of the Alien Enemies Act Regarding the Invasion of the United States by Tren de Aragua

Proclamation 10903 of March 14, 2025

Invocation of the Alien Enemies Act Regarding the Invasion of the United States by Tren de Aragua

A Proclamation

Tren de Aragua (TdA) is a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization with thousands of members, many of whom have unlawfully infiltrated the United States and are conducting irregular warfare and undertaking hostile actions against the United States. TdA operates in conjunction with Cártel de los Soles, the Nicolas Maduro regime-sponsored, narco-terrorism enterprise based in Venezuela, and commits brutal crimes, including murders, kidnappings, extortions, and human, drug, and weapons trafficking. TdA has engaged in and continues to engage in mass illegal migration to the United States to further its objectives of harming United States citizens, undermining public safety, and supporting the Maduro regime's goal of destabilizing democratic nations in the Americas, including the United States.

TdA is closely aligned with, and indeed has infiltrated, the Maduro regime, including its military and law enforcement apparatus. TdA grew significantly while Tareck El Aissami served as governor of Aragua between 2012 and 2017. In 2017, El Aissami was appointed as Vice President of Venezuela. Soon thereafter, the United States Department of the Treasury designated El Aissami as a Specially Designated Narcotics Trafficker under the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act, 21 U.S.C. 1901

et seq.

El Aissami is currently a United States fugitive facing charges arising from his violations of United States sanctions triggered by his Department of the Treasury designation.

Like El Aissami, Nicolas Maduro, who claims to act as Venezuela's President and asserts control over the security forces and other authorities in Venezuela, also maintains close ties to regime-sponsored narco-terrorists. Maduro leads the regime-sponsored enterprise Cártel de los Soles, which coordinates with and relies on TdA and other organizations to carry out its objective of using illegal narcotics as a weapon to “flood” the United States. In 2020, Maduro and other regime members were charged with narcoterrorism and other crimes in connection with this plot against America.

Over the years, Venezuelan national and local authorities have ceded ever-greater control over their territories to transnational criminal organizations, including TdA. The result is a hybrid criminal state that is perpetrating an invasion of and predatory incursion into the United States, and which poses a substantial danger to the United States. Indeed, in December 2024, INTERPOL Washington confirmed: “Tren de Aragua has emerged as a significant threat to the United States as it infiltrates migration flows from Venezuela.” Evidence irrefutably demonstrates that TdA has invaded the United States and continues to invade, attempt to invade, and threaten to invade the country; perpetrated irregular warfare within the country; and used drug trafficking as a weapon against our citizens.

Based upon a review of TdA's activities, and in consultation with the Attorney General and the Secretary of the Treasury, on February 20, 2025, acting pursuant to the authority in 8 U.S.C. 1189, the Secretary of State designated TdA as a Foreign Terrorist Organization.

As President of the United States and Commander in Chief, it is my solemn duty to protect the American people from the devastating effects of this invasion. NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of America, by the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including the Alien Enemies Act, 50 U.S.C. 21

et seq.,

hereby proclaim and direct as follows:

Section 1

. I find and declare that TdA is perpetrating, attempting, and threatening an invasion or predatory incursion against the territory of the United States. TdA is undertaking hostile actions and conducting irregular warfare against the territory of the United States both directly and at the direction, clandestine or otherwise, of the Maduro regime in Venezuela. I make these findings using the full extent of my authority to conduct the Nation's foreign affairs under the Constitution. Based on these findings, and by the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including 50 U.S.C. 21, I proclaim that all Venezuelan citizens 14 years of age or older who are members of TdA, are within the United States, and are not actually naturalized or lawful permanent residents of the United States are liable to be apprehended, restrained, secured, and removed as Alien Enemies. I further find and declare that all such members of TdA are, by virtue of their membership in that organization, chargeable with actual hostility against the United States and are therefore ineligible for the benefits of 50 U.S.C. 22. I further find and declare that all such members of TdA are a danger to the public peace or safety of the United States.

Sec. 2

. I direct the Attorney General, within 60 days of the date of this proclamation, to prepare and publish a letter under her signature declaring the policy described in section 1 of this proclamation as the policy of the United States and attaching this proclamation. I direct the Attorney General to transmit this letter to the Chief Justice of the United States, the chief judge of every circuit court of appeals, the chief judge of every district and territorial court of the United States, each Governor of a State and territory of the United States, and the highest-ranking judicial officer of each State and territory of the United States.

Sec. 3

. I direct that all Alien Enemies described in section 1 of this proclamation are subject to immediate apprehension, detention, and removal, and further that they shall not be permitted residence in the United States.

Sec. 4

. Pursuant to the Alien Enemies Act, the Attorney General and the Secretary of Homeland Security shall, consistent with applicable law, apprehend, restrain, secure, and remove every Alien Enemy described in section 1 of this proclamation. The Secretary of Homeland Security retains discretion to apprehend and remove any Alien Enemy under any separate authority.

Sec. 5

. All executive departments and agencies (agencies) shall collaborate with law enforcement officials of the United States and with appropriate State, local, and tribal officials, to use all lawful means to apprehend, restrain, secure, and remove Alien Enemies described in section 1 of this proclamation.

Sec. 6

. Pursuant to my authority under 50 U.S.C. 21 to direct the conduct to be observed on the part of the United States toward the Alien Enemies subject to this proclamation, to direct the manner and degree of the restraint to which such Alien Enemies shall be subject and in what cases, to provide for the removal of such Alien Enemies, and to establish any other regulations which are found necessary “in the premises and for the public safety,” I hereby direct the Attorney General and the Secretary of Homeland Security to execute all the regulations hereinafter contained regarding the Alien Enemies described in section 1 of this proclamation. The Attorney General and the Secretary of Homeland Security are further directed to cause the apprehension, detention, and removal of all members of TdA who otherwise qualify as Alien Enemies under section 1 of this proclamation. The Attorney General and the Secretary of Homeland Security are authorized to take

all necessary actions under the Alien Enemies Act to effectuate this proclamation, consistent with applicable law. In doing so, and for such purpose, they are authorized to utilize agents, agencies, and officers of the United States Government and of the several States, territories, dependencies, and municipalities thereof and of the District of Columbia. All such agents, agencies, and officers are hereby granted full authority for all acts done by them in the execution of such regulations when acting by direction of the Attorney General or the Secretary of Homeland Security, as the case may be.

Pursuant to the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including the Alien Enemies Act, 50 U.S.C. 21

et seq.,

I hereby declare and establish the following regulations which I find necessary “in the premises and for the public safety”:

(a) No Alien Enemy described in section 1 of this proclamation shall enter, attempt to enter, or be found within any territory subject to the jurisdiction of the United States. Any such Alien Enemy who enters, attempts to enter, or is found within such territory shall be immediately apprehended and detained until removed from the United States. All such Alien Enemies, wherever found within any territory subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, are subject to summary apprehension.

(b) Alien Enemies apprehended pursuant to this proclamation shall be subject to detention until removed from the United States in such place of detention as may be directed by the officers responsible for the execution of these regulations.

(c) Alien Enemies shall be subject to removal to any such location as may be directed by the officers responsible for the execution of these regulations consistent with applicable law.

(d) All property in the possession of, or traceable to, an Alien Enemy, which is used, intended to be used, or is commonly used to perpetrate the hostile activity and irregular warfare of TdA, along with evidence of such hostile activity and irregular warfare, shall be subject to seizure and forfeiture.

The Attorney General is further granted authority, pursuant to the Alien Enemies Act and 3 U.S.C. 301, in consultation with the Secretary of Homeland Security, to issue any guidance necessary to effectuate the prompt apprehension, detention, and removal of all Alien Enemies described in section 1 of this proclamation. Any such guidance shall be effective immediately upon issuance by the Attorney General.

This proclamation and the directives and regulations prescribed herein shall extend and apply to all land and water, continental or insular, in any way within the jurisdiction of the United States.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this fourteenth day of March, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-five, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-ninth.



https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143418756

Baitball Blogger

(49,900 posts)
16. LOL! What a fucking clown show! I want to get back to my dimension!
Fri Mar 21, 2025, 09:09 PM
Mar 21

I somehow fell into the Idiocracy dimension of Bizarro World

Aussie105

(6,982 posts)
21. As for all turds, their passing will be welcomed.
Fri Mar 21, 2025, 09:33 PM
Mar 21

This particular turd though, seems to be stuck.

Is America constipated? Inquiring minds want to know!

Aussie105

(6,982 posts)
22. The Trump (mis)administration is disintegrating before our eyes.
Fri Mar 21, 2025, 09:37 PM
Mar 21

They wanted the power, now they have it.

Not making good use of it though.

Seems to be an element of deliberate destruction and deconstruction going on?

Can't quite put my finger on the logic behind that.

ReRe

(11,584 posts)
42. Logic? Hahahahahahaha!
Sat Mar 22, 2025, 05:52 AM
Mar 22

The logic behind it is S.T.U.P.I.D.I.T.Y. In other words, no logic. Logic to them is whatever spills out of their mouths when someone sticks a mic &/or camera in their face. The rule of thumb is probably something like this: "Say whatever will sound good to the base". There's no method to their madness.

Bluethroughu

(7,201 posts)
26. He should be removed from office immediately for no knowing
Fri Mar 21, 2025, 11:03 PM
Mar 21

his administration signed an order and deported people to a gulag in an adversarial country.

This is beyond crazy now!

 

AmericaUnderSiege

(777 posts)
27. Treason is defined very clearly in the Constitution.
Fri Mar 21, 2025, 11:09 PM
Mar 21

As is insurrection. The Constitution has this imbecile and his accomplices fully entangled already. Everybody cooperating with them in any way is legally culpable nine ways from sunday.

Lasher

(28,807 posts)
29. This is vintage Trump.
Fri Mar 21, 2025, 11:16 PM
Mar 21

Whenever something goes right, he takes full credit - whether he is justified or not.

But whenever anything goes sideways, he blames others.

dweller

(26,502 posts)
32. Every accusation is a confession
Fri Mar 21, 2025, 11:22 PM
Mar 21

Biden’s EO’s are null and void because he used autopen and didn’t know what he was signing




smdh

✌🏻

Bread and Circuses

(724 posts)
33. It was the BLAAACK lady's fault....or SLEEPY joe....or barrack HUSSEIN obama...or the email lady did it.
Fri Mar 21, 2025, 11:23 PM
Mar 21

Just proves that he’s a sock puppet for Putin, the TechBros , etc.

erpowers

(9,419 posts)
34. If Joe Biden
Fri Mar 21, 2025, 11:28 PM
Mar 21

If President Joe Biden had said something like this the Republican Party would have been calling for the 25th Amendment and the media would have questioned his competency to run the country. A few weeks ago Donald Trump seemed to not remember calling President Zelensky a dictator. Now he is claiming he did not sign a proclamation that removed people from this country. Now is the time for the media to start asking questions about Trump.

moniss

(7,181 posts)
35. The true mark of the sociopath is they are never responsible for
Fri Mar 21, 2025, 11:33 PM
Mar 21

bad things and it is always somebody else they attach blame to. Always. They will start a fire and burn the house down and when confronted by their spouse it goes something like this "You made me do this. It's not my fault. I told you not to ............... but you wouldn't listen so this is all your fault."

I've heard crap like this so many times. It comes out of the mouths of domestic abusers also.

D. Spaulding

(173 posts)
36. He always does that "I didn't see it, never heard it, don't know anything about them, don't know who that is" , when
Fri Mar 21, 2025, 11:49 PM
Mar 21

he gets the sense that one of his actions or something he's associated with becomes very unpopular. He did it with Project 2025, Fuentes, etc.

Hornedfrog2000

(155 posts)
37. And the media
Fri Mar 21, 2025, 11:59 PM
Mar 21

Never questions it, never pushes back. All of them should resign. Yes, all of them.

Wiz Imp

(4,856 posts)
38. What's his game here? Does he think denial is going to help him?
Sat Mar 22, 2025, 12:48 AM
Mar 22

Even if we didn't have the actual signed document proving he indeed signed it, he is the only person who has the authority to invoke the act. If someone else did it, then he is admitting that he has rogue criminals in his administration committing unconstitutional acts.

Deminpenn

(16,748 posts)
40. Am I the only one who has noticed how oddly calm and scripted Trump is these days?
Sat Mar 22, 2025, 05:17 AM
Mar 22

When I see clips of him, he's sitting at his desk, hands folded and appears to be reading off a paper or note cards. This is not the rambling, incoherent guy of 4 years ago. It all seems very rehearsed. He's not out holding rallies either. And we all know how he loves his adoring crowds of supporters. He seems to be spending a lot of time golfing or going to sporting events, too, perhaps to keep him out of the way.

He looks like a Stepford wife or your pet after you give it one of those calming treats.

This all strikes me as a very concerted effort to minimize Trump's actual role as president, to send him out as "the face of his administration" to fool his base while others like Miller and Vought manipulate him from behind the curtain.

Irish_Dem

(69,096 posts)
46. Excellent observations Demi.
Sat Mar 22, 2025, 07:20 AM
Mar 22

Yes I have noticed the same thing.

He seems coherent and calm in his presentation these days.

It appears he is being carefully managed, medicated and rehearsed.

He is much more angry in his 3am Social Truth posts.
Either his minders cannot control him them, or he is not making those posts.
Maybe his calming medication wears off by 3am.
He is needing his morning dose.

Yes I think they get him out of the WH as much as they can.
And get him focused on picking out the colors for the new Air Force One.
And tearing out the Rose Garden.
Putting up a copy of the Declaration of Independence in the Oval Office.
Playing golf.

Obviously Trump has no knowledge about most of what he is doing and signing.
Someone is handing him material and telling him what to say on a daily basis.



Deminpenn

(16,748 posts)
48. They cannot babysit him 24/7
Sat Mar 22, 2025, 02:17 PM
Mar 22

thus the middle of the night social media posts where the real Trump comes out.

Otherwise it sure as heck appears he is being carefully stage managed. Doing this might be easier and comfortable since he has years of experience in reality TV.

Irish_Dem

(69,096 posts)
49. It may come to Trump being watched 24/7.
Sat Mar 22, 2025, 02:23 PM
Mar 22

As his dementia, psychopath delusions, paranoia and revenge rage get worse.

Yes good point. All of his years of PR minders and TV directors, stage hands, minders, etc.
make him easier to manage now. They could even hire people who can act and speak like
TV directors to manage him.

Irish_Dem

(69,096 posts)
53. Yes, replicate some of that ambiance and atmosphere.
Sat Mar 22, 2025, 02:59 PM
Mar 22

It would be an ego boost and comfort zone for Trump.

We can assume that Putin has a least one agent in the White House.
The CIA as well.

Maybe they are doing some of their own management too.

FakeNoose

(37,242 posts)
52. He only says this because it blew up in their faces
Sat Mar 22, 2025, 02:46 PM
Mar 22

Otherwise he'd be stepping up to take ALL the credit.

Latest Discussions»Latest Breaking News»Trump Says He Wasn't the ...