Security crises typically produce a rally-round-the-flag effect in which presidential approval soars. Second, security crises silence opponents, since criticism can be viewed as disloyal or unpatriotic. Finally, security crises loosen normal constitutional constraints. Similarly, President Marcos of the Philippines did not want to step aside when his second term expired in 1973. Following in the tradition of Vargas and Marcos, Mr. Trump fabricated a security threat to make the case for bypassing Congress.

Source: New York Times January 12, 2019 20:36 UTC