Mr. Trump: Personal morality is the only thing that restrains my power

In the interview of New York Times On January 8, White House correspondent Katie Rogers asked Mr. Trump if there were any limits to his global power. “That is my own morality and reason. This is the only thing that can stop me,” the US President replied.

“I don’t need international law,” President Trump added. “I have no intention of harming anyone.”

The US leader then said his administration still needed to comply with international law, but noted that “that depends on your definition of international law”.

When asked whether his priority was maintaining the NATO military alliance or controlling Greenland, President Trump said “that could be an option”. The US leader, who built his personal fortune through real estate development, said that Washington’s control of Greenland is “psychologically necessary for success”.

President Trump does not feel any problem with his family doing business abroad after he returns to the White House in early January 2025.

“I banned them from doing business during my first term, but got no record of it,” he said. “I realized no one cared and I was allowed to do it.”

The United States is not a member of the International Criminal Court (ICC), which tries war criminals, and has repeatedly rejected rulings from the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the United Nations’ highest court.

President Trump himself has also had trouble with domestic law, when he was impeached twice and faced many federal charges, including conspiracy to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election, a charge that was dropped after he was re-elected, and being convicted in the porn star hush money case.

Although he declared himself “President of peace” and wanted to receive the Nobel Peace Prize, Mr. Trump launched many military campaigns during his second term. He ordered attacks on Iran’s nuclear program, as well as directed raids on Nigeria, Somalia, Syria, Yemen and most recently Venezuela to capture President Nicolas Maduro and his wife.

After Mr. Maduro was arrested, Mr. Trump threatened a series of other countries, including Colombia, as well as continued to express his intention to control Greenland, a territory managed by NATO member Denmark.

Some US lawmakers, including Republican members, are looking for ways to restrain Mr. Trump’s power. The US Senate on January 8 voted to promote a measure to prevent the President from continuing to take military action in Venezuela without congressional authorization, but US leaders are likely to veto it.