Victor Davis Hanson: Sorry, Liberals. DOGE Is 100% Legal. Here’s Why.
02/11/25 • 8 min
Is the Left taking the bait? While many in the legacy media continue to berate Elon Musk for his role in defunding bloated federal programs and agencies, Donald Trump remains largely unscathed. Is this part of a larger strategy by the president, wonders Victor Davis Hanson on today’s edition of “Victor Davis Hanson: In His Own Words.”
“He's more legitimate—or he has more statutory legitimacy—than earlier presidential advisors, like Harry Hopkins, who moved into the White House under the FDR administration, or Bernard Baruch, who basically ran two world wars, in terms of domestic production, under Woodrow Wilson and FDR. So, let's just dispel the idea that he's doing anything unusual. ...
“As far as the executive orders that created the DOGE program and eliminated USAID—that was perfectly legal in itself—USAID was created by John F. Kennedy in 1961 by an executive order. There was a statutory direction for the president to disperse foreign aid into a comprehensive body, but it didn't say USAID—he could do whatever he wanted. ...
"And so, Donald Trump has decided to end an autonomous USAID and fold it into the State Department for disaster relief or poverty relief or famine relief. ...
“All Donald Trump is doing is saying, ‘I don't believe the impoundment act is legal. We'll see what the Supreme Court says—but I'm just following the precedent that Joe Biden did.’ But now, the shoe's on the other foot."
For Victor’s latest thoughts, go to: https://victorhanson.com/
Don’t miss out on Victor’s latest videos by subscribing to The Daily Signal today. You’ll be notified every time a new video drops: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHqkXbgqrDrDVInBMSoGQgQ
The Daily Signal cannot continue to tell stories like this one without the support of our viewers: https://secured.dailysignal.com/
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Is the Left taking the bait? While many in the legacy media continue to berate Elon Musk for his role in defunding bloated federal programs and agencies, Donald Trump remains largely unscathed. Is this part of a larger strategy by the president, wonders Victor Davis Hanson on today’s edition of “Victor Davis Hanson: In His Own Words.”
“He's more legitimate—or he has more statutory legitimacy—than earlier presidential advisors, like Harry Hopkins, who moved into the White House under the FDR administration, or Bernard Baruch, who basically ran two world wars, in terms of domestic production, under Woodrow Wilson and FDR. So, let's just dispel the idea that he's doing anything unusual. ...
“As far as the executive orders that created the DOGE program and eliminated USAID—that was perfectly legal in itself—USAID was created by John F. Kennedy in 1961 by an executive order. There was a statutory direction for the president to disperse foreign aid into a comprehensive body, but it didn't say USAID—he could do whatever he wanted. ...
"And so, Donald Trump has decided to end an autonomous USAID and fold it into the State Department for disaster relief or poverty relief or famine relief. ...
“All Donald Trump is doing is saying, ‘I don't believe the impoundment act is legal. We'll see what the Supreme Court says—but I'm just following the precedent that Joe Biden did.’ But now, the shoe's on the other foot."
For Victor’s latest thoughts, go to: https://victorhanson.com/
Don’t miss out on Victor’s latest videos by subscribing to The Daily Signal today. You’ll be notified every time a new video drops: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHqkXbgqrDrDVInBMSoGQgQ
The Daily Signal cannot continue to tell stories like this one without the support of our viewers: https://secured.dailysignal.com/
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Previous Episode
Tariffs on Steel and Aluminum, Hamas Postpones Hostage Release, Judge Blocks Trump EO | Feb. 10
On today’s Top News in 10, we cover:
- President Trump is imposing more tariffs on goods coming into the U.S. The president is imposing 25% tariffs on all steel and aluminum coming into the U.S.
- Hamas has accused Israel of violating its current ceasefire agreement, and becasue of this, Hamas says it will postpone the hostage release that was scheduled for this coming Saturday.
- A third judge has blocked President Trump’s executive action to end automatic birthright citizenship for the children of illegal aliens.
Also on today’s show:
- President Trump says that under his plan to revitalize Gaza, Palestinians would not return until the rebuilding was complete.
- A new CBS News YouGov poll shows that Americans have a favorable view of President Trump just a few weeks into his second term.
Keep Up With The Daily Signal
Sign up for our email newsletters: https://www.dailysignal.com/email
Subscribe to our other shows:
The Tony Kinnett Cast: https://www.dailysignal.com/the-tony-kinnett-cast
Problematic Women: https://www.dailysignal.com/problematic-women
The Signal Sitdown: https://www.dailysignal.com/the-signal-sitdown
Follow The Daily Signal:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thedailysignal/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheDailySignalNews/
Truth Social: https://truthsocial.com/@DailySignal
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/DailySignal
Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/TheDailySignal
Thanks for making The Daily Signal Podcast your trusted source for the day’s top news. Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform and never miss an episode.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Next Episode
Trump Floats Ending FEMA, Bannon Pleads Guilty, Plastic Straws Return| Feb. 11
On today’s Top News in 10, we cover:
- President Donald Trump calls for the elimination of the Federal Emergency Management Agency
- Trump ally Steve Bannon pled guilty to fraud charges regarding the funding of part of President Donald Trump‘s border wall.
- President Donald Trump signs an executive order bringing back plastic straws.
- The United States Agency for International Development pours money into terrorist organizations
- President Donald Trump meets with the leader of Jordan, King Abdullah.
Links From Today’s Show:
Keep Up With The Daily Signal
Sign up for our email newsletters: https://www.dailysignal.com/email
Subscribe to our other shows:
The Tony Kinnett Cast: https://www.dailysignal.com/the-tony-kinnett-cast
Problematic Women: https://www.dailysignal.com/problematic-women
The Signal Sitdown: https://www.dailysignal.com/the-signal-sitdown
Follow The Daily Signal:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thedailysignal/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheDailySignalNews/
Truth Social: https://truthsocial.com/@DailySignal
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/DailySignal
Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/TheDailySignal
Thanks for making The Daily Signal Podcast your trusted source for the day’s top news. Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform and never miss an episode.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
If you like this episode you’ll love
Episode Comments
Generate a badge
Get a badge for your website that links back to this episode
<a href="https://goodpods.com/podcasts/the-daily-signal-podcast-33141/victor-davis-hanson-sorry-liberals-doge-is-100-legal-heres-why-83981362"> <img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/goodpods-images-bucket/badges/generic-badge-1.svg" alt="listen to victor davis hanson: sorry, liberals. doge is 100% legal. here’s why. on goodpods" style="width: 225px" /> </a>
Copy