It's theoretically possible, but he's all but ruled it out for now. The 14th amendment says that any debt the United States has taken on must be honored.The Fourteenth Amendment (Amendment XIV) to the United States Constitution was adopted on July 9, 1868, as one of the Reconstruction Amendments. The direct approach would be to declare the debt ceiling unconstitutional because the 14th amendment says that the public debt shouldn't be questioned. The 14 Amendment says the public debt of the US cannot be questioned. That means it must be paid. Shall not be questioned". The 14 Amendment has text saying the validity of the public debt of the United States shall never be questioned. Laurence Tribe says in requiring president to pay U.S. debts it supersedes debtlimit law, breaks impasse over GOP demands. A clause in the 14th Amendment is being cautiously considered as a possible emergency fix as the US economy hurtles toward the looming threat of default.