Liberal critics of President-elect Donald Trump believe there are simply too many potential conflicts of interest to legally allow him to become the next leader of the USA. Many liberals are now pointing to a passage in the U.S. Constitution known as the Emoluments Clause to make their case. The Emoluments Clause is found in Article I, Section 9, Clause 8 of the U.S. Constitution.
This clause states:
“No Title of Nobility shall be granted by the United States: And no Person holding any Office of Profit or Trust under them, shall, without the Consent of the Congress, accept of any present, Emolument, Office, or Title, of any kind whatever, from any King, Prince, or foreign State.”
Constitutional historians believe the Founding Fathers put this clause in the Constitution to keep American politicians from taking bribes or gifts from other foreign officials. Some believe the large businesses Trump owns could be in direct violation of the Emoluments Clause, and they are determined to fight for justice.
It seems President-elect Trump, however, is not concerned at all about the legality of his presidency. In a recent interview with the New York Times, Trump told reporters that “the law’s totally on my side, the president can’t have a conflict of interest.” Trump probably also hopes to garner public approval by only taking $1 of his presidential salary, as he announced he would do on a 60 Minutes interview.
Although liberals are enthused by the prospect of impeaching Trump for a violation of the Emoluments Clause, they are not so sure it will happen. There may be a few liberals in Congress who push for impeachment once Trump enters the White House, but it seems unlikely to pass with the Republican controlled House and Senate.
Instead of looking to push for impeachment within Congress, many Democrats believe there is enough popular support for an impeachment. With all of the unrest and protests springing up across the nation, liberals believe the will of the people is actually against a Trump presidency.
If this impeachment is truly going to happen, Democrats have to work to mobilize the people who are now demonstrating on college campuses and in major cities around the nation. They hope to turn the energy of the “Not My President” movement into a political force to push Trump out of the White House legally.
Only time will tell if President-elect Donald Trump has to face the prospect of impeachment.