Trump floats expanded presidential powers during rally speech, saying he would make every executive-branch employee 'fireable' by POTUS

During a rally on Saturday, former President Donald Trump floated an expansion of presidential powers.

Speaking to rallygoers in Florence, South Carolina, he suggested that if he were reelected, the president would have the power to fire anyone who works in the government's executive branch.

"We will pass critical reforms making every executive-branch employee fireable by the president of the United States. The deep state must and will be brought to heel," he said. Fringe media and the far-right have often used the term "deep state" to refer to the "real power" in the US government.

The president is not allowed to fire elected officials, including the vice president, who is part of the executive branch.

The president is also not allowed to fire just anyone in the executive branch. While this power had initially been available to the president, it led to the "spoils system," in which every new president could essentially replace the entire government with their supporters.