The Economist has said that the US Constitution allows Donald Trump alone to issue orders to the military, but his diminishing legitimacy and mistrust of his motives weighs on those who must follow his directives.

In a report, the

magazine quoted

Lindsay Cohn, a professor at the US Naval War College, as saying that Trump's behavior will increase the likelihood of slowing down any potential large movements abroad, but that will not be enough, and that the remainder of the national security specialists in his administration are anxiously preparing the remainder of his days. And January 20 seems far away to them.

The Economist explained that in the normal course of affairs, army commanders in democracies are supposed to remain out of sight, but last Wednesday's riots did not allow General Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and advisor to the president, to align with the normal course, as he received frantic text messages from one deputy. At least trapped inside a Congress building asking for help, he also received an unwelcome phone call Friday from Nancy Pelosi, the Democratic leader of the House of Representatives.

Not an easy task

The magazine suggested that Trump will remain in office until January 20, saying that the impeachment measures that Democrats are threatening will not succeed, and it is unlikely that Mike Pence and the majority of his cabinet will use the 25 amendment to remove him.

Therefore, government officials are starting to think about how to prevent him from doing more harm to the country, which is not an easy task in a system of government that gives presidents enormous power.

The magazine said the tension between this culture of military discipline and Trump's visibly diminishing political authority may lead to unprecedented dilemmas, as Pelosi's intervention suggests.

Tensions in Washington, D.C., after the Congressional riots (French)

She pointed out that on the day of the congressional attack, the chain of command was broken, as the order for the deployment of the National Guard in Washington, DC, was not issued by Trump, but rather after Christopher Miller, Acting Secretary of Defense, spoke to congressional leaders and Mike Pence, the US Vice President.

Abnormal position

Referring to this abnormal situation, the Economist quotes Carey Lee, a professor at the US Air War College, as saying, “I find it difficult to come up with an equivalent historical example, as the president was not in the decision-making circle about something like this, except for the events of 9/11, when George W. Bush is in Air Force One and in limited contact. "

The magazine concluded that what happened on Wednesday was bypassing the president with a political cover from his deputy and lawmakers, and the impression was that power was receding from the president and increasing with his vice president at a critical juncture in American democracy.

The army might intervene

And recent public statements by the Chief of Staff indicate that he will resist any effort by Trump to attract soldiers, as he said in a statement on Wednesday, "Our people have sworn to defend the constitution and our democratic form of government and will act accordingly."

Even if he was weakened, Trump would still be formally in charge, and he could still issue or revoke any orders now or during future turmoil, which would force the defense secretary to choose between disobeying, resigning, or impeachment.

If things get out of control now or in the next two weeks, the military might intervene, says Risa Brooks of Marquette University. "I'm concerned that the military leaders may not have the political mindset to just suppress collective political violence."