Suspending Who?' Trump Caught Flat-Footed by Question About Suspending Habeas Corpus'

"Regarding a phone call Trump had last month with Oregon Governor Tina Kotek, the president said he was taken aback by her insistence that Portland is not the hellscape he has been saying it is. I spoke to the governor, she was very nice, Trump said last month. But I said, Well wait a minute, am I watching things on television that are different from what's happening? My people tell me different.'"

"On Wednesday, a seemingly MAGA reporter asked Trump, Have you given any more thought to possibly suspending habeas corpus to not only deal with these insurrectionists across the nation, but also to continue rapidly deporting illegal aliens? Suspending who? Trump responded. Habeas corpus, came the reply. I don't know, the president said. I'd rather leave that to Kristi. What do you think? Sir, I haven't been part of any discussions on that, Noem said."

"Testifying before the Senate back in May, Noem was asked by Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-NH) what habeas corpus is. The secretary responded, Well, habeas corpus is a constitutional right that the president has to be able to remove people from this country and suspend their right to At that point, Hassan interrupted to correct Noem. Excuse me, habeas corpus is the legal principle that requires that the government provide a public reason for detaining and imprisoning people, Hasan stated."

President Donald Trump took questions in the White House State Dining Room during an Antifa roundtable and claimed Antifa was responsible for unrest in cities like Portland. He said a phone call with Oregon Governor Tina Kotek left him surprised that she disputed his portrayal of Portland. A reporter asked whether he had considered suspending habeas corpus to address alleged insurrectionists and accelerate deportations. Trump appeared not to understand the question and deferred to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. Noem said she had not discussed suspending habeas corpus and previously offered an incorrect definition during Senate testimony, which was corrected by Sen. Maggie Hassan.

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