Readers respond to Question of the Week:

Is Trump testing the Constitution?

Simply put, yes

Trump believes probably correctly that he can act with impunity because the Supreme Court ruled that a sitting president within the scope of his duties is immune and while presidents have been impeached none has or ever will be convicted because it only takes a third of the Senate to block. He is testing the Constitution but more importantly he’s testing what he believes to be his Supreme Court. More and more we’re learning of heinous actions being taken without prior public knowledge based on the concept of fait accompli which allows him both to get away with such actions and he believes will set a precedent for future actions. Chief Justice Roberts and Justice Coney-Barrett may or may not hold the promise of restraining him.

— Ron Garber, Duarte

The Fifth Amendment

Trump took an oath to uphold the Constitution. Unfortunately, it appears that only a Supreme Court decision will convince him that the Fifth Amendment right of due process applies to all “persons,” citizens and non-citizens alike. There would be no need for “millions” of trials if Trump respected the rule of law.

— Dennis Murphy, North Hills

Yes, but he’s not the first

Any president should always follow what the U.S. Supreme Court decides. As for other lower courts, presidents should either follow their rulings or appeal. Presidents like Andrew Jackson and Franklin Roosevelt and others have gone after or tried to get around court rulings. Trump is not the first president to do this.

— Richard Metzger, Porter Ranch

He is not

If memory serves this writer correctly, the current president took an oath (twice) “to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution.” Apparently, the Felon-in-Chief has forgotten what he said twice upon a time or, as evidenced by replying “I don’t know” when asked whether he is obligated to uphold the Constitution, prefers to ignore, tread upon and shred the foundation of the republic. He is not testing the Constitution; it must be gutted as it stands in the way of his self-aggrandizement and self-enrichment.

— Michael Dewart, Torrance