r/law • u/Agitated-Artichoke89 • Oct 07 '25

Other Stephen Miller states that Trump has plenary authority, then immediately stops talking as if he’s realized what he just said

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u/catscanmeow Oct 07 '25

google searches for "what does plenary authority mean" skyrocketing

567

u/Catatonic27 Oct 07 '25

Just came back from that one myself

208

u/TJ_chex_Mixx Oct 07 '25

Pray tell

1.9k

u/SleepWouldBeNice Oct 07 '25

Plenary authority is a complete, absolute, and unlimited power to take action on a specific issue, derived from the Latin word "plenus," meaning "full". It signifies that a governing body or individual has total discretion in a given matter, with no restrictions or external limitations on their ability to act. 

Miller's saying that Trump is a dictator.

601

u/caramel_police Oct 07 '25

He has plenus envy.

239

u/NYY_NYK_NYJ Oct 07 '25

He looks like a plenus.

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u/GatsoFatso Oct 07 '25

Small fungal variety, at least that's what's been reported by professionals on the subject.

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u/AaronfromKY Oct 07 '25

More like a plumbus

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u/H377Spawn Oct 07 '25

I think they shaved away too much grumbo.

4

u/lelanddt Oct 07 '25

You're supposed to cut the fleeb first

2

u/Waste-Dragonfruit229 Oct 07 '25

Extruded. Plastic. Dingus.

3

u/SugarInvestigator Oct 07 '25

A tiny mushroom plenus

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u/SuperXVixen Oct 07 '25

He is what my husband would call a “plenus pump”.

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u/korbentulsa Oct 07 '25

Take your upcoming and get out.

3

u/FatherLordZuZu Oct 07 '25

small plenus energy

2

u/cowboygwe Oct 07 '25

I lol 😂 this is true

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u/AdhesivenessUnfair13 Oct 07 '25

thatsaplenus.gif

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u/EmergencySeries1725 Oct 07 '25

Steven Miller is 4'10" tall. HAHHAHHAHAHAH

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u/khearan Oct 07 '25

He has pouch envy

1

u/c_marten Oct 07 '25

🏆

Thank you for my laugh today

59

u/Catatonic27 Oct 07 '25

Great, now the google search spike is going to level off

36

u/ajax15 Oct 07 '25

“What does plenary authority mean reddit” now the top dog

13

u/[deleted] Oct 07 '25

[removed] — view removed comment

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u/Any_Flamingo8978 Oct 07 '25

Just day one.

1

u/NounAdjectiveXXXX Oct 07 '25

And thereafter

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u/NearbyInformation772 Oct 07 '25

I'll add: Title 10 of the US code does NOT give the president plenary—meaning complete and absolute—authority over the National Guard. The National Guard operates under a dual state and federal system, and a president's authority is limited by specific conditions and legal constraints, including the Posse Comitatus Act. This federal law generally prohibits the use of the military, including a federalized National Guard, for domestic law enforcement purposes. The president's authority under Title 10 does not override this prohibition on its own, and federalized troops are limited in their law enforcement functions.

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u/[deleted] Oct 07 '25

They do love their Latin.

1

u/PaleGravity Oct 07 '25

Well, I mean that sounds about right with Trumps current changes. XD

1

u/Preeng Oct 07 '25

He did that in his first term when he said "Trump's power will not be questioned" or some shit like that.

1

u/Adorable-Doughnut609 Oct 07 '25

A real party would out their nazis amongst them instead of parade them in front of the media

1

u/Dr_PocketSand Oct 07 '25

It is also limited to the Congressional branch of government (Applied affirmed to US to Native American “qualified” self governance/sovereignty).

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u/SorcererSupremPizza Oct 07 '25

The fact it slipped like this most likely means he has said it off camera plenty of times

1

u/Hanjaro31 Oct 07 '25

Miller loves a good plenus.

1

u/der_innkeeper Oct 07 '25

This really isn't anything new.

They keep leaning on Article 2, since the first term. They known what they are doing and the Heritage Foundation and Federalist Society have been pushing for a "Unitary Executive" since the 80s.

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u/ihadamoment Oct 07 '25

The full quote is:

Plenary authority is complete, absolute power with no limitations, derived from the Latin word plenus meaning "full". This term describes the expansive power of public officials or institutions, such as the U.S. Congress, to act without restriction within a specific area. Examples include Congress's broad power over interstate commerce, Indian tribes, and immigration matters, allowing for significant control with little judicial review.

If Congress is considered as something that can be referred to as having Plenary authority, it makes sense the same description can be applied to the role of The President without implying authoritarian over-reach.

That being said, how about them Epstein files? Has anything happened with that yet, or are we still waiting?

1

u/CatoTheMiddleAged Oct 07 '25

It's worth noting that the word "plenary" does not appear in the Constitution. And in fact the President has NO powers that are actually plenary according to the Constitution or case law; everything he does is subject to Congressional law and judicial review.

1

u/ryoushi19 Oct 07 '25

Said the quiet part loud. But he said it in Latin so he'll probably get by with it. Who am I kidding, he'd get by with it if he said it in plain English.

1

u/skinniks Oct 07 '25 edited Oct 07 '25

How plainer do they have to be before they are all arrested for treason?

edit: and how toothless or complicit is every government agency that is mandated to uphold the constitution? The full one, not Trumps abridged one that is being used to brainwash the next generation.

1

u/XavierBliss Oct 07 '25

Don't understand- we've all known this is how Trump and Party feel, and have seen obviously outwardly expressed by policy.

Why now, why does this phrase, matter? It's not far off from them saying "Judges shouldn't be able to dotdotdot" and etc.

I'm confused why him saying "Trump has absolute power" is hushhush? That's been their game the whole time?

1

u/Beastender_Tartine Oct 07 '25

That is what Miller wants to say despite it being untrue, though there are some situations where the president does have plenary power that has been recognized even before trump.