WASHINGTON —Tariffs, immigration, energy: In all these areas, Donald Trump has granted himself exceptional and broad presidential powers by declaring “emergency” situations that his critics insist do not exist.

“In the United States, there is no tradition of emergency powers (granted to the president) under the Constitution,” New York University professor Noah Rosenblum told AFP.

But various laws allow the commander-in-chief’s powers to be expanded on an exceptional—and usually temporary—basis.

Historically such emergency powers have been invoked to deal with natural disasters, to deploy responders or troops, and to unlock critical funding.

“But that, of course, is not how Donald Trump is using it,” Rosenblum said.

Since returning to the White House on January 20, the Republican president has repeatedly invoked states of emergency in a variety of areas—eight times in all, according to National Public Radio—thus green-lighting swift and forceful intervention on his administration’s part.

They have had little to do with hurricanes, floods or earthquakes.

On his first day in office, Trump declared a “national energy emergency” in the United States—the world’s leading oil producer.

By early April, frustrated by the trade deficits the United States had with many countries, including some imbalances going back decades, Trump declared a national emergency, among other reasons, “to increase our competitive edge,” the White House said.

The result? Tariffs slapped on adversaries and allies alike.

The flow of migrants arriving from Mexico has prompted Trump to declare a state of emergency at the US southern border, and he apparently feels empowered to respond with massive import duties, or forced deportations of undocumented migrants.