An NBC News report on groups that say they are preparing for a possible second Donald Trump presidency by working on ways to limit his military powers created a firestorm on X Sunday.
According to NBC News, Trump's comments about dictatorship have made people who comprehend the inner workings of the Pentagon frightened that he would transform the nonpartisan U.S. military, using it to enforce his political agenda.
Reacting to the article, Mollie Hemingway, editor-in-chief of The Federalist, posted on X: "NBC reports the left is plotting ways to have military not be under civilian control. This dangerous and unconstitutional usurpation of power is being framed by NBC as good because it will undermine Trump if he is freely and fairly elected by Americans."
Following less than a week after President Joe Biden authorized airstrikes in Yemen without Congress' approval amid reports of Houthi attacks on cargo ships in the Red Sea, NBC News' spoke with people who say they fear that Trump will use the military unconstitutionally and act like a dictator. Biden was criticized even by some members of his own party who said he acted unconstitutionally by not seeking congressional approval before ordering the strikes.
During an appearance on Fox News, Trump relayed that the media took his comments about being a dictator out of context. Trump then went on to state that he was referring to the executive orders he would sign in his first days of office: secure the border and "drill" for energy. "After that, I am not going to be a dictator," Trump said.
But according to NBC News, a group of lawmakers and public interest groups are "quietly devising plans" to prevent Trump from acting as commander in chief.
"This is called a "junta,'" writer Walter Kirn posted on X.
NBC News' report stated that the people involved in the effort are preparing in case Trump wins in November by studying the former president's past actions and his 2024 policy positions. Additionally, they are making plans for taking legal action and preparing letters to send to presidential appointees warning of consequences they would face should they subvert constitutional norms.
"We're already starting to put together a team to think through the most damaging types of things that he [Trump] might do so that we're ready to bring lawsuits if we have to," Mary McCord, executive director of the Institution for Constitutional Advocacy and Protection at Georgetown Law, told NBC News.
Those concerned that Trump will act like a dictator told NBC they worry he will invoke the Insurrection Act to deploy the military on protesters opposed to him or on political dissenters.
In response, NBC News noted, Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., is crafting legislation that would give Congress and the courts some say in the military's use.
"There are an array of horrors that could result from Donald Trump's unrestricted use of the Insurrection Act," Blumenthal stated.
Blumenthal is also taking steps to make it harder for a president to pull out of NATO, which would already be more difficult than it was. The $886 billion defense bill signed by Biden in December bars a president from single-handedly withdrawing from NATO.
Trump has pledged to "fundamentally" reevaluate "NATO's purpose and NATO's mission" if reelected.
Nick Koutsobinas ✉
Nick Koutsobinas, a Newsmax writer, has years of news reporting experience. A graduate from Missouri State University’s philosophy program, he focuses on exposing corruption and censorship.
© 2025 Newsmax. All rights reserved.