'DEFCON-1 warning' in Trump trial argument: analyst

An argument made by Donald Trump’s attorneys in one of multiple court cases the former president faces serves as a “DEFCON-1 warning” to what his reelection would entail, a new analysis contends.

David Corn, Mother Jones’ D.C. bureau chief, raised the alarm Thursday over arguments presented at Trump’s presidential immunity hearing in his federal election interference case.

“They presented their boss’ view that once back in the White House he would be able to order a SEAL team to assassinate a political rival and be beyond criminal prosecution,” Corn writes. “That legal argument was absurd, but the fact that Trump would allow his attorneys to advance this contention ought to be a DEFCON-1 warning.”

In fact, Trump's attorneys argued he could only be prosecuted for ordering assassinations of his rivals if the United States Senate voted to convict him -- and if that vote fell just one short of the two-thirds required, the president would be off the hook for everything.

ALSO READ: Listen: Trump’s top Senate allies try – and fail – to defend his immunity claim

Corn believes this argument likely comes from the former president himself, who has joked he would be a “day-one” dictator and, in 2016, said he could shoot someone in the middle of a Manhattan street and not lose voter support.

As proof, Corn points to campaign trail promises made to supporters should they return him to the White House.

“He has promised the MAGA right that he will be its force of vengeance against liberals, Democrats, the supposed Deep State, the media, and other political opponents,” writes Corn, "whom he routinely casts as depraved commies and radicals out to destroy him and America (particularly its white suburban neighborhoods.)"

The warning, for Corn, is that Trump would make good on his promises to the detriment of American democracy.

“Trump 45 envisions a possible Trump 47 as a force unrestrained by rules or laws,” Corn says. “He would literally be above the law—able to do anything, as long as 35 senators do not convict.”

Read the full analysis here.