Former President Donald Trump has threatened to take unprecedented legal measures against his predecessors and his successor if his allegations are not dismissed and he returns to power. "You have to understand: if Europe is attacked, we will never help you, and we will not support you," Trump reportedly told Ursula von der Leyen at the World Economic Forum in Davos, 2020, according to Thierry Breton, European Commissioner for Internal Market, who recalled the events at a private meeting in the presence of the EU Commissioner.
With the Republican Party set to choose their presidential nominee on January 15th, the Brussels elite are anxious about the possibility of Trump's return to the White House.
According to polls, Trump is leading the potential list of Republican candidates, with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley trailing behind.
“By the way, NATO is dead, and we are leaving NATO,” Trump allegedly declared, as per Thierry Breton. Trump also claimed that Germany owed the United States "400 billion dollars" for inadequate defense financing.
In light of this tension, Breton who oversees the EU's defense policy advocated for the development of the EU's self-defense capabilities and announced the creation of a hundred billion euro fund to accelerate the production of weaponry.
Breton reflects that the Davos meeting was a "wake-up call," noting that Trump could return at any time, and given the sense of abandonment, Europe has no choice but to drastically bolster its defense sector, as reported by Politico.
TRUMP MAKES THREATS AGAINST OBAMA AND BUSH
On domestic grounds, Trump does not spare his enemies either. He has previously hinted at prosecuting
Joe Biden should he win the upcoming November presidential election. Now, he has upped the stakes, stating that if the criminal allegations against him are not dropped, legal proceedings could be initiated against former presidents as well.
"It's very simple: I feel that as president, I am entitled to immunity," Trump said during a court hearing, where three federal judges skeptically heard his lawyers argue that presidents enjoy immunity from prosecution over official acts.
A foreboding Trump described the situation as "very sad," ominously stating that opening this proverbial "Pandora's Box" could leave no future president safe.
Apart from Biden, Barack Obama might be held accountable for the deaths of two American citizens a 16-year-old boy and his father during his presidency, the latter being identified as a leader of al-Qaeda. According to Trump's lawyer, George W. Bush could face charges for initiating the Iraq war based on false information.
Trump faces four different charges, with the most serious allegations concerning his questioning of the 2020 election results and the incitement of subsequent riots.
PANDORA'S BOX OF LEGAL PERIL
Trump's lawyers stress that if the allegations are not dropped, the future security of presidents may be at risk, a position echoed by one of his attorneys, Will Scharf.
Legal experts, however, are troubled by this argument. They suggest that presidential candidates should be ensuring voters that they will respect the law, not demanding immunity. This sentiment was expressed by Claire Finkelstein, a law professor at the University of Pennsylvania.
Trump claims he was merely fulfilling his presidential duties when he attempted to influence the 2020 election results in his favor, accusing Biden of trampling on democratic traditions ever since.
Trump's reference to Pandora's Box metaphorically implies that if he is not granted immunity, neither should "dishonest
Joe Biden" be, especially following the withdrawal from
Afghanistan and accusations of receiving millions in foreign dollars, which Trump posted on his social media platform.
RISK TO THE PRESIDENTIAL OFFICE
If judicial immunity for the president is not upheld, the office itself is threatened, according to Mike Davis, head of a conservative judges' association. Davis adds that the murder allegation against Barack Obama stemming from a drone strike that killed Anwar al-Awlaki and his 16-year-old son does not expire.
Former Texas attorney general noted that while federal officials, including the president, are protected for their good faith decisions, election fraud does not fall under this category.
Trump's legal battles and combative stance underscore a deeply polarized political environment and potential tumultuous challenges ahead if he re-enters the political arena for the next election cycle.