Trump has attempted to rewrite the constitution with an executive order. He tried to explain that for over a century since the 14th amendment was passed that every single lawyer, judge, politician and citizen was unable to read the clear language of the law, and that only trump himself can truly divine the meaning of the words. That is what is vastly different. Here is a judge overseeing one of 14th amendment cases.
"It has become ever more apparent that to our president, the rule of law is but an impediment to his policy goals. The rule of law is, according to him, something to navigate around or simply ignore, whether that be for political or personal gain. Nevertheless, in this courtroom and under my watch, the rule of law is a bright beacon which I intend to follow. I said this two weeks ago, and I’ll say it again today. There are moments in the world’s history when people look back and ask, where were the lawyers? Where were the judges? In these moments, the rule of law becomes especially vulnerable. I refuse to let that beacon go dark today. As a judge, my job is not only to uphold the law, but to protect the rule of law itself. Birthright citizenship is a fundamental constitutional right. The 14th Amendment secures the blessings of liberty to our posterity by bestowing on all those born in the United States and subject to its jurisdiction the rights of citizenship. We are all citizens, subject to the rule of law. No amount of policy, policy debate can change that. And the fact that the government has cloaked what is effectively a constitutional amendment under the guise of an executive order is equally unconstitutional. The Constitution is not something with which the government may play policy games. If the government wants to change the exceptional American grant of birthright citizenship, it needs to amend the Constitution. Its that’s how our Constitution works, and that’s how the rule of law works. Because the president’s order attempts to circumscribe this process, it is clearly unconstitutional. The preliminary injunction is granted on a nationwide basis." - Judge Coughenour, Thursday announcing his decision to enjoin the Birthright Citizenship Executive Order.
The judge could not be more clear about how what is happening now is vastly different from previous presidents. This is not just a 'policy difference'. this is a callous disregard for the rule of law.
"It has become ever more apparent that to our president, the rule of law is but an impediment to his policy goals. The rule of law is, according to him, something to navigate around or simply ignore, whether that be for political or personal gain. Nevertheless, in this courtroom and under my watch, the rule of law is a bright beacon which I intend to follow. I said this two weeks ago, and I’ll say it again today. There are moments in the world’s history when people look back and ask, where were the lawyers? Where were the judges? In these moments, the rule of law becomes especially vulnerable. I refuse to let that beacon go dark today. As a judge, my job is not only to uphold the law, but to protect the rule of law itself. Birthright citizenship is a fundamental constitutional right. The 14th Amendment secures the blessings of liberty to our posterity by bestowing on all those born in the United States and subject to its jurisdiction the rights of citizenship. We are all citizens, subject to the rule of law. No amount of policy, policy debate can change that. And the fact that the government has cloaked what is effectively a constitutional amendment under the guise of an executive order is equally unconstitutional. The Constitution is not something with which the government may play policy games. If the government wants to change the exceptional American grant of birthright citizenship, it needs to amend the Constitution. Its that’s how our Constitution works, and that’s how the rule of law works. Because the president’s order attempts to circumscribe this process, it is clearly unconstitutional. The preliminary injunction is granted on a nationwide basis." - Judge Coughenour, Thursday announcing his decision to enjoin the Birthright Citizenship Executive Order.
The judge could not be more clear about how what is happening now is vastly different from previous presidents. This is not just a 'policy difference'. this is a callous disregard for the rule of law.
Here is the judge's bio if you are inclined to think he is politically biased, https://www.wawd.uscourts.gov/judges/coughenour-bio