Echoing the tyrannical claim of his lawyer Rudy Giuliani in a Twitter outburst on Monday, President Donald Trump asserted that he has the “absolute right” to pardon himself—a statement legal experts said is both factually inaccurate and dangerous.

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As has been stated by numerous legal scholars, I have the absolute right to PARDON myself, but why would I do that when I have done nothing wrong? In the meantime, the never ending Witch Hunt, led by 13 very Angry and Conflicted Democrats (& others) continues into the mid-terms!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 4, 2018

Responding to the president’s tweet, former federal prosecutor Renato Mariotti wrote,

“You don’t need to be a lawyer to understand why courts would never uphold a president’s power to commit crimes and then pardon himself for them.”

Other legal experts and commentators similarly disputed Trump’s claim that he has a right to pardon himself—while also noting the “very, very disturbing” implications of the president’s assertion.

This is very, very disturbing. https://t.co/S7km9dnkao

— Shaun King (@ShaunKing) June 4, 2018

Just noting that the logic of this tweet suggest that, if Trump did do something wrong, he would pardon himself. https://t.co/ucwoFND1Ow

— Judd Legum (@JuddLegum) June 4, 2018

I thought the whole point was that we don't have a king. https://t.co/WOCzdB59q1

— Zack Ford (@ZackFord) June 4, 2018

I do not know if Donald Trump will attempt to become a dictator. But this is exactly what you would say if you were laying the foundation to become a dictator. https://t.co/PacoHpxAfo

— Anand Giridharadas (@AnandWrites) June 4, 2018

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