Reflections on an American president who seems to be outside of the law
OTTAWA—Gordie Howe must be turning over in his grave. The political football attached to the bridge bearing the legendary hockey player’s name has made a laughing stock of signed agreements.
It seems the president of the United States has the power to unilaterally shut down bridges and revoke red cards in international sporting events.
And no one in his party appears ready to challenge him.
Just look at the trajectory of the American senator felled last week by an aortic dissection.
In the eulogies following Lindsey Graham’s death, we were reminded that he was best friends with John McCain in the early days of his political career.
When McCain passed, Graham said, “America and Freedom have lost one of her greatest champions, and I have lost one of my dearest friends and mentors. I will need some time to absorb this, but I want Cindy and the entire McCain family to know they are in our prayers.”
His support for McCain ran counter to the view expressed by U.S. President Donald Trump who constantly attacked McCain’s record as a renowned prisoner of war.
Graham characterized Trump as “unfit for office” after the president said, “I like people who aren’t captured.”
Trump often used social media postings to characterize a prisoner of war as “dummy” and “loser.”
There was a time when Graham stood up against the president. After the infamous Jan. 6, 2021, riot on Capitol Hill, Graham said he had finally had enough of Trump. “Trump and I, we’ve had a hell of a journey. I hate it to end this way. Oh my God, I hate it. From my point of view he's been a consequential president. All I can say is count me out. Enough is enough.”
But just four months after that statement, Graham came to the conclusion that the Republican Party could not move forward without Trump.
As the president used his political heft to overthrow Republican politicians who did not align with his viewpoint, Graham reversed his position and became one of Trump’s most loyal backers.
Some could argue that is the nature of political survival. But if that is the case, it is hard to see how the United States can ever get beyond the harm that has been caused by the president in multiple areas beyond his jurisdiction.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino's decision to overturn a referee’s decision to issue a red card to an American player caused massive opposition in the sporting community and beyond.
European lawmakers are demanding an investigation in the affair. Trump has admitted reaching out to Infantino for a reversal of the red card which would have kept American striker Folarin Balogun out of the next game.
Infantino said the decision was made by a committee.
His intervention followed a decision made by Infantino last December when he honoured Trump with the first FIFA Peace Prize.
Apparently, there was no committee and zero process for the recognition which also prompted attacks on the political neutrality that FIFA is supposed to observe.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has been asked to review the red card withdrawal by Fairsquare, a British non-governmental organization.
Fairsquare also filed a complaint with FIFA last December. Backed by more than 50 European parliamentarians and the Norwegian Football Federation, the NGO complained that the Peace Prize awarded by FIFA to Trump broke the soccer organization’s political neutrality rule.
When Infantino became an IOC member in 2020, he swore a pledge of political neutrality. If found in breach, he could be expelled from the IOC.
The complaint also alleges that a 2026 World Cup fan site was used for data harvesting to link fans to another Trump website.
The IOC will have no choice but to fully investigate the complaint with consequences.
In the meantime, there doesn’t seem to be much of an outcry in Washington from Republicans.
Like Graham, most have decided to stay in Trump’s good books or face his political wrath in Republican nomination battles.
The upcoming November midterm elections may change that perspective, but, in the meantime, the president can do whatever he wants whenever he wants, with little political backlash back home.
Keep a bridge closed—no problem. Make a red card disappear—no problem. Bomb a country—no problem.
It seems the American president is simply outside the law.
Sheila Copps is a former Jean Chrétien-era cabinet minister, and a former deputy prime minister.
The Hill Times