United States officially designated as a disaster area by Trump

U.S. President Trump declares national emergency

In an unprecedented move, US President Donald Trump has been bypassing Congress and declaring numerous emergencies, signing decrees left and right during his second term. According to reports, his administration is currently acting on ten such emergencies, both legal and rhetorical.

The courts, including the Supreme Court, have historically been poor at considering bad intent, according to constitutional law professor David Pozen of Columbia Law School. This has allowed Trump to push the boundaries of executive power, with hundreds of his direct measures based on laws that would otherwise need to be passed by Congress or undergo lengthy review.

If Trump continues at this pace, he will have issued more decrees than any other US president since the Great Depression and before World War II: Franklin D. Roosevelt signed 1707 orders in his first term from 1933 to 1937. Trump has already issued around 200 orders from his desk, almost as many as in his entire first term.

One of the key areas where Trump has used his executive powers is trade. The Supreme Court is set to decide whether Trump can impose tariffs on imports from other countries unilaterally. Trump's government has justified its appeals to the U.S. Supreme Court primarily by declaring a national emergency based on large U.S. trade deficits and drug smuggling. These justifications were used to impose controversial tariffs on countries like China, Canada, and Mexico, bypassing Congress by citing national security risks linked to trade imbalances and illegal fentanyl trafficking.

Trump's actions in the realm of immigration have also been controversial. He has invoked the "Alien Enemies Act" law, leading to the deportation of migrants. The Alien Enemies Act allows the state to deport aliens quickly in case of war or an undefined "invasion."

In terms of domestic policy, Trump has declared a national energy emergency, resulting in licensing for fossil fuel extraction on public lands, bypassing environmental regulations. He has also declared a health emergency due to opioids, leading to tariffs on fentanyl smuggling or components against Canada, Mexico, and China, as well as sanctions against China.

Trump's actions have not gone unchallenged. Opponents and NGOs are challenging Trump's actions in court, as a means to put roadblocks in his path due to narrow Republican majorities in the Senate and Congress. The president can also deploy the National Guard within the country to defend law and order, and for Washington, DC, there's a provision that allows the White House to command the police in case of a "crime emergency." Trump has enforced law and order, deploying the National Guard in Los Angeles due to alleged threats to federal buildings and employees of the immigration agency by protesters.

Trump's claims about the implications of a ruling against his tariffs are stark. He claims that a ruling against his tariffs would "literally destroy" the United States. However, the final decision lies with the courts and the Supreme Court, which is driving the cases with its appeals, potentially playing to Trump's advantage due to its conservative majority and traditional deference to the executive.

In conclusion, Trump's use of executive powers has been unprecedented in recent US history. Whether his actions are legal or constitutional remains to be seen, as the courts continue to deliberate on his decrees.