But by relying on the rationale so often, Trump risks endangering the long-term credibility of the executive branch, some experts warn. Judges weighing the merits of inevitable court challenges to his moves may not believe the White House’s national security justifications, and lawmakers may take steps to limit the power of the presidency, as they did in response to the frustrations with President Richard Nixon.
“The long-term impact is an erosion of trust in the executive branch, which may come back to bite,” Chesney said.
The origins of Trump’s national-security-focused strategy date back to the months after he won the election, when his top aides were scrambling to come up with a plan to make good on his campaign promises without running afoul of the law, according to people familiar with the matter.
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