5 alarm fire’: Legal experts warn Trump may be about to commit an ‘impeachable offense’
A recent report from NBC News says that advisers in the White House are seriously discussing whether President Donald Trump might use the Insurrection Act — a very old law from the early 1800s. This law allows a president to use active-duty military troops inside the United States to help with law enforcement. Normally, the military is not allowed to perform police duties such as searches or arrests, but this act would make it possible.
These talks are happening while Trump is pushing to send National Guard troops to big cities like Los Angeles, Chicago, and Portland. He says it’s to fight crime and protect federal immigration agents from protesters.
A senior official told NBC that no final decision has been made yet about using the Insurrection Act. But if Trump decides to do it, it would be a big and controversial move.
Trump has already faced legal challenges. In Oregon, a federal judge stopped his plan to send National Guard units from other states into Portland. After that, Trump said he might use the Insurrection Act “if necessary.” He explained that if people were being killed and local officials or courts were stopping him from acting, he would use it — but he added that so far, it hasn’t been needed.
The news has caused a lot of criticism online.
John Padora, a Democrat running for Congress, wrote that America is no longer a healthy democracy and accused Trump of trying to act like an authoritarian leader. He said Trump is sending troops from Republican states into Democratic cities, calling them “war zones,” threatening governors, and possibly trying to create chaos to gain more power or even delay future elections.
Anthony Kreis, a law professor, said that in normal times, Trump’s actions would be considered grounds for impeachment.
Journalist Bastian Brauns warned that this move could have serious long-term effects.
Derek Martin, who leads a nonprofit group, said that while ordinary Americans are worried about rising healthcare costs, the president is more concerned about putting soldiers in their neighborhoods to look tough.
Journalist Wajahat Ali described the situation as a “five-alarm fire,” meaning an urgent crisis.
Author Everett Parrott added that military officers have both a moral and legal duty to refuse any orders that go against the U.S. Constitution, warning that everyone involved will eventually be held accountable for their actions.
