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Trump is halfway to making America a police state
US President’s refusal to accept a Supreme Court ruling on illegal deportation is a turning point.
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US President Donald Trump (right) and El Salvador's president Nayib Bukele meeting at the White House on April 14.
PHOTO: BLOOMBERG
Edward Luce
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At around noon on April 14, 2025, America ceased to have a law-abiding government. Some would argue that had already happened on Jan 20, when Donald Trump was inaugurated. On Monday, however, Mr Trump chose to ignore a 9-0 Supreme Court ruling to repatriate an illegally deported man. He even claimed the judges ruled in his favour.
The US President’s middle finger to the court was echoed by his attorney-general, secretary of state, vice-president and El Salvador’s vigilante president Nayib Bukele. The latter is playing host to what resembles an embryonic US gulag.
