On 15 February 2025, United States President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social and Twitter: “He who saves his country does not violate any law.” The White House later reposted the statement on Twitter that same day.
Notably, this phrase was used by Norwegian terrorist and convicted mass murderer Anders Behring Breivik, who identifies as a Nazi, to justify the 2011 Norway attacks, in which 77 people were killed—most of them children.
Breivik invoked the phrase in his 1,500-page manifesto, 2083: A European Declaration of Independence, arguing that his violent actions were necessary to defend European civilization against “Eurabia,” a far-right, Islamophobic conspiracy theory that claims “globalist” entities aim to Islamize Europe.
The quotation is commonly attributed to Napoleon Bonaparte, though there is no definitive source confirming its exact origin in his writings or speeches.
El Salvador’s authoritarian President Nayib Bukele has also used the phrase, posting “He who saves his country violates no law” on X in reference to a story about Costa Rica supposedly being influenced by El Salvador’s crackdown on crime.
This idea aligns with realpolitik, a political philosophy that prioritizes pragmatism and national interest over strict adherence to legal or moral codes. However, such justifications have been widely criticized for providing a pretext for authoritarianism, allowing leaders to bypass democratic institutions under the guise of protecting the nation. Historically, this rationale has been employed by fascist regimes, including Mussolini’s Italy and Hitler’s Germany, where legal structures were eroded in the name of national salvation. The phrase has also been described as reflective of Vladimir Putin’s governance style and political ideology.
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On behalf of America, I would like to apologize, for throwing our waste product, into your streets. 🤦♂️😔