Trump says no laws broken if he 'saves his country', quotes Napoleon

Echoing French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte, Donald Trump posted a cryptic online message as his executive actions faced multiple legal challenges, with some even accusing the US President of usurping the authority of Congress as set out in the Constitution.

"He who saves his country does not violate any law," he posted on his Truth Social app, referring to the quote attributed to the French military leader who created the Napoleonic Code of civil law in 1804 before declaring himself emperor.

Napoleon often justified his authoritarian rule in France, saying that it was the will of the people.

Dozens of lawsuits currently challenge the President's executive orders, including the ongoing crackdown against illegal immigration, attempts to ban transgender people from serving in the US military, efforts to overhaul the federal workforce and giving the White House unilateral firing authority if the targeted employees fail to “faithfully implement administration policies”.

The crackdown on illegal immigration alone faces at least 10 lawsuits, including seven that challenge Trump's order to end birthright citizenship.

The President has also been sued against releasing the names of FBI agents and staff members who were involved in the bureau's probe into the January 2021 Capitol riot, reports The New York Times.

Meanwhile, Trump's post drew immediate backlash from Democrats.

"Spoken like a true dictator," Senator Adam Schiff of California, a longtime adversary of Trump, tweeted.

While Trump says he abides by court rulings, his advisers have attacked judges on social media and called for their impeachment.

Vice President JD Vance tweeted last week that judges "aren't allowed to control the executive’s legitimate power."

(With Reuters inputs)