In Worst Totalitarian Move To Date, Trump Threatens To Adjourn Congress, Make Recess Appointments

Whatever programming started out as daily coronavirus updates from the White House, what is in fact taking place is the Daily Meltdown of Donald Trump. Like a drunkard who cannot understand he is irrational and that’s why people are giving him a wide berth and ignoring him, he gets uglier and uglier, and his threats have escalated. In his latest psychotic episode, Wednesday, Trump threatened to adjourn both chambers of Congress and make recess appointments — which the constitution allows him to do, but in limited and specific circumstances. Who knows who he’s been listening to, to feel empowered to make this level of threat? Stephen Miller playing constitutional scholar, perhaps?

"Whether it's Russia, Russia Russia, or whether it's impeachment hoax, or whatever it may be, it's always roadblocks and a waste of time" — it's time for therapy time with the president pic.twitter.com/QwokP7fXn5

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) April 15, 2020

The Constitution does offer that power to a President. pic.twitter.com/M5aERV8klr

— Jamie Dupree (@jamiedupree) April 15, 2020

Let this one sink in. The President just threatened to shut down Congress. They do that in Russia. They do that in China. They do that in banana republics. Welcome to our new world.

— Joe Lockhart (@joelockhart) April 15, 2020

If Obama had ever threatened to adjourn both houses of Congress by fiat, Republicans would be driving across that lawn and tackling him at the podium right this moment.

— Tom Nichols (@RadioFreeTom) April 15, 2020

In threatening to adjourn Congress, he may be referring to Const., Art. 2, §3. It does not give him authority to randomly close Congress, but some fringe Federalist society member member may be whispering crazy sweet nothings in his ear. Imagine if Obama had — oh, never mind. pic.twitter.com/QSlPMZcxfz

— Walter Shaub (@waltshaub) April 15, 2020

I don't want to be kneejerk against this just because it's never been done before. But the fact that it's never been done before at least suggests people should think through the precedents this may set. 2/4

— Jonah Goldberg (@JonahDispatch) April 15, 2020

I do think the whole long riff about judges and this announcement do not belong in a press conference about a pandemic. Denouncing Democrats (whether merited or not) when you're also calling for national unity in a time of peril is tone deaf. But that's the world we're in. 4/4

— Jonah Goldberg (@JonahDispatch) April 15, 2020

DJT: I have all power.

No you don't. You're not a King. Congress has power over you.

DJT: I'm going to adjourn Congress.

<This is going to get far, far worse, folks.>

— Joanne Freeman (@jbf1755) April 15, 2020

No the president cannot adjourn Congress to create the recess that would justify making appointments without Congress’ consent. What a laughable, transparently dictatorial proposal.

— Christian Vanderbrouk (@UrbanAchievr) April 15, 2020

This is not and hasn’t been a daily press conference on the coronavirus. it is a daily open air therapy session for Trump, since he doesn’t have his rallies to vent at. We need to get him off the air. Let Pence or Fauci or somebody give a daily briefing — or just send us a memo. This is an affront and a colossal waste of time. Americans are dying and we’re supposed to tolerate bullying and insult from a clear and obvious lunatic? Please.

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