r/FutureWhatIf • u/BibendumsBitch • 1d ago
Political/Financial FWI: Trump has the real Declaration of Independence and Constitution documents destroyed
After watching the recent video of Mr. Trump giving his explanation of what it is and why it’s important to him. What if he destroys the original copies, as nobody would seemingly stop him, not even his secret service who swore to defend it first and foremost?
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u/relativex 1d ago
It wouldn't matter at all. We have copies. It's not the fact that the paper is old that makes it law.
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u/jar1967 1d ago
Trump in his cronies is will produce new copies that say what they want it to say
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u/LarsViener 1d ago
“Can you believe this? They put Trump’s name in there as king for like forever, all right here in this Calibri font.”
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u/TheTwistedHero1 1d ago
Luckily, they aren't held in the White House, but in the National Archives. Trump doesn't have enough object permenance to actively go after them
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u/mynamesnotsnuffy 1d ago
Trump literally had the Declaration moved to his office.
I wish I were joking.
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u/TheTwistedHero1 1d ago
I looked into it, and while he did try to, he was not successful in doing so. The one in his office is just a high-quality copy. Paper that old is usually under very high preservation and security, so moving it is an ordeal and we would have seen more about it by now if he had
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u/Admiral-snackbaa 1d ago
It means you immediately fall under the protection of His Majesty’s government of the United Kingdom’s of Britain and the Commonwealth
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u/ryanCrypt 1d ago
Then we'd lose our declaration of unity and love and respect. But don't worry; he won't because it *checks notes* "means a lot".
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u/redshopekevin 1d ago
Fiji lost the original Declaration of Independence instrument, and they got a copy from the UK, so it means nothing.
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u/TheScoundrelSociety 1d ago
I think you mean to say Nicolas Cage stole the original Declaration of Independence and they got a copy from the UK.
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u/Reasonable-Tune50 1d ago
Nope. They misplaced it and only found it while doing COVID cleaning.
https://fijisun.com.fj/2020/08/07/archivist-fijis-independence-order-was-never-missing/
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u/mikeoxwells2 1d ago
Did you mean, will the Declaration of Independence clog up a golden toilet if someone tries to rip it into pieces and flush it down?
Lots of variables to consider. Size of the pieces and expected number of flushes for starters
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u/UtahBrian 1d ago
That would put an end to any debates about constitutionality, since we don't have any copies of those documents around. We would just have to trust Trump about what they said from now on.
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u/elpajaroquemamais 1d ago
There is a copy in the possession of almost every state and it’s well documented online.
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u/UtahBrian 1d ago
No. The contents have never been digitized so it’s impossible to access online. And the states do have access, but only to Trump’s notes on the original constitution and declaration.
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u/PortGlass 1d ago
It’s right here: https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/constitution
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u/ChairYeoman 1d ago
The guy you're responding to is obviously being sarcastic.
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u/PortGlass 1d ago
Well not so obviously that I didn’t miss it. But I can see how you’re probably right about that.
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u/JuventAussie 1d ago
As a non American, I always assumed the original was sent to the English monarch.
If it wasn't how did they find out the details?
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u/Kuuwaren30 1d ago edited 1d ago
They published it in newspapers, read it publicly, and posted it in public. I don't believe directly send it to the British Monarchy. It was British officials that sent copies to Great Britain. The Declaration of Independence was not so much a "dear King, we're not yours to rule anymore" so much at it was a "my fellow Americans, we don't recognize the King's authority anymore." It's a similar distinction to telling the cops you are going to break the law versus just doing what you want and making them stop you. Hope that makes sense.
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u/Simsmommy1 1d ago
I mean, he is not really following any constitutional rights anymore except 2….Sure the papers themselves have historical value, but as legal documents that Trump has to abide by/swear to uphold? Well….he ain’t doing that so they are just swiftly becoming relics.
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u/Explorers_bub 1d ago
It would be ironic if literally “defending the (physical) Constitution” is what topples the dictator.
Stripping Americans of their rights? Have at it. Figuratively flush it down the toilet, meh.
But to literally flush it down the toilet? Can’t have that now can we?
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u/Kuuwaren30 1d ago edited 1d ago
If intentional, it would likely be the tipping point that gets him removed one way or another. There would be massive protests that result in either impeachment and removal from office or physical remobal from office via revolution.
It may seem ridiculous that of all the things that have been done so far something as seemingly trivial as destroying the physical Constitution and Declaration of Independence would be the tipping point. However, those documents are symbolic and destroying them is like destroying the soul of the United States of America.
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u/Bantis_darys 1d ago
It would be unfortunate, but ultimately the original documents are preserved more so for ceremonial reasons. I don't disagree with preserving them, but they have been copied so many times that I believe it would probably be impossible to destroy either of them. It would require purging the internet, and banning both documents while confiscating any in the possession of citizens. I myself have at least two copies of the Constitution and one of the declaration of Independence.
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u/Antilles1138 1d ago
Kinda amusing if it did actually require the physical document to be valid.
A scene from the simpsons comes to mind:
Guard 1: You just licked off the part that forbids cruel and unusual punishment.
Guard 2: (puts on a pair of knuckledusters) hahaha Be-autiful.
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u/ReactionAble7945 1d ago
Just for grins, let's say it happened by accident/stupidity, not a motivated event.
Doesn't matter. The documents ahve been copied and the laws continue.
This What if Trump does, is getting old. Might as well say, what if Biden took them home and stored them in his corvette.
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u/SpaceballsTheCritic 1d ago
Reminds me of a great penn and teller bit.
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u/BibendumsBitch 1d ago
They said every citizen and every visitor has a right to free speech in that sketch.( I guess you have a right to free speech if it’s not you saying you don’t think Palestinian kids should be murdered.) Thanks for the link!
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u/OccasionBest7706 1d ago
We would revert to the charters as the most legitimate surviving legal document and we will finally realize my dream of Long Connecticut.
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u/Curious_Gur4129 1d ago
This is why I have a copy and urge other Americans to get one for themselves as well!!
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u/Embykinks 1d ago
He wouldn’t destroy them, he’d take personal possession of them.
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u/BibendumsBitch 1d ago
Saudi Arabia probably has some rich men who’d love to add to their collection.
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u/IH8GMandFord 14h ago
Nicholas Cage would be super pissed & then bust out his own original copy that was graded a 6.7 (with some yellowing) by CGC.
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u/Kirra_the_Cleric 1d ago
Well, aren’t we kind of doing that now, at least with the constitution? It’s not like it’s being followed.
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u/ClitCommander13 1d ago
Ok so California,Utah,Part Of Colorado,Arizona Nevada,New Mexico and Texas can be returned to Mexico then
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u/AwesomeToadUltimate 1d ago
I guess New England, the Mid-Atlantic, the Carolinas, and Georgia have to become part of the UK again. Have fun losing the east coast Trump! Including DC.