Trump Pledges to Shatter More Norms in Second Term

New York Times: “In little over an hour, Donald Trump suggested the United States should default on its debts for the first time in history, injected doubt over the country’s commitment to defending Ukraine from Russia’s invasion, dangled pardons for most of the Capitol rioters convicted of crimes, and refused to say he would abide by the results of the next presidential election.”

“The second-term vision Mr. Trump sketched out at a CNN town-hall event on Wednesday would represent a sharp departure from core American values that have been at the bedrock of the nation for decades: its creditworthiness, its credibility with international allies and its adherence to the rule of law at home…”

“The televised event crystallized that the version of Mr. Trump who could return to office in 2025 — vowing to be a vehicle of ‘retribution’ — is likely to govern as he did in 2020.”