What Trump Officials Mean by “Never”
The article examines the Trump administration's rhetorical strategy of claiming that the president and his officials are incapable of unethical or illegal behavior. It argues that this 'never has, never will' mantra creates a dangerous environment of impunity.
Why it matters
This trend challenges democratic norms and legal accountability by attempting to place the executive branch above ethical scrutiny.
The claim that the president could not possibly do something unethical marks a new frontier of impunity by the administration.
Aaron Schwartz / Bloomberg / Getty August 17, 2026, 5:16 PM ET Share Save Listen − 1.0 x + Seek 0:00 6:14 Attorney General Todd Blanche has made abundantly clear that he will not act independently of President Trump’s desires. So yesterday, NBC’s Kristen Welker posed an obvious question to Blanche on Meet the Press : “If the president asks you to do something that you feel crosses an ethical or legal line, would you do it?” Blanche replied confidently, “The president will never ask me to do something unethical or illegal. He never has. He never will.”
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