His colleagues argued that such a move by law enforcement would encroach upon constitutional rights. “I don’t ever believe there’s a time in this country where due process can be dismissed, period,” North Carolina Republican Thom Tillis told reporters. He suggested that Trump may not be familiar with the law—“he’s not a legal scholar”—and that he might not have meant what he said.

“I don’t think that he was saying that there’s a place where you suspend the Constitution and suspend due process. I just don’t believe that,” said Tillis. “I know you heard the words. I just don’t believe in my heart of hearts that’s exactly what he meant.”