Judicial Battles Heat Up as Trump Clashes with Federal Judges \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ Donald Trump’s White House is intensifying attacks on federal judges, accusing them of judicial activism for blocking key administration policies. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt called the judiciary the real constitutional crisis, as Republican lawmakers and allies, including Elon Musk, push efforts to limit court authority. Meanwhile, legal experts warn that judicial review is under threat, with lawsuits piling up against Trump’s executive actions.
Trump vs. Federal Judges: Quick Looks
- Trump’s administration blames federal judges for obstructing executive actions.
- Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt accused courts of judicial activism.
- Elon Musk, JD Vance, and GOP lawmakers are pushing to limit judicial power.
- At least 60 lawsuits have been filed against Trump’s policies since Jan. 20.
- Judges have temporarily blocked efforts to end birthright citizenship and allow Musk’s department access to Treasury funds.
- Trump insists he follows court rulings but suggests judges may be protecting corruption.
- Legal experts warn that Trump’s rhetoric threatens judicial independence.
Deep Look
White House Shifts Blame to Judiciary Over Blocked Policies
Since Donald Trump’s return to office, Democrats and legal scholars have accused him of pushing a constitutional crisis by seeking to expand executive power while defying legal checks.
On Wednesday, the White House fired back, claiming that judges—not the president—are the real problem.
“We believe these judges are acting as judicial activists rather than honest arbiters of the law,” said Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt during a briefing.
“The real constitutional crisis is taking place within our judicial branch.”
Leavitt’s remarks reflect a growing Republican campaign to challenge the courts’ authority, as Trump and his allies accuse judges of politically motivated obstruction.
Trump’s Policies Face Legal Challenges
Federal judges have temporarily blocked several of Trump’s key initiatives, including:
- Ending birthright citizenship
- Pushing out government workers
- Granting Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) access to the U.S. Treasury’s payment system
Some Republican-appointed judges have ruled against Trump, including those nominated by Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush.
Despite the setbacks, Trump has not publicly stated he will defy court orders.
“I follow the courts. I have to follow the law. All it means is that we appeal,” Trump said from the Oval Office on Wednesday.
However, he suggested that judges may be protecting fraud, referencing their role in blocking his administration’s efforts to cut government spending.
“We want to weed out the corruption, and it seems hard to believe that a judge could say we don’t want you to do that,” Trump said.
“So maybe we have to look at the judges because I think it’s a very serious violation.”
Elon Musk, JD Vance, and GOP Push to Limit Court Power
The anti-judiciary rhetoric has been amplified by Trump allies, including:
- Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT): Drafting legislation to limit lower court power over executive actions.
- Elon Musk: Called for judges who block Trump’s policies to be fired or impeached.
- Vice President JD Vance: Argued that judges cannot control executive authority.
- House Speaker Mike Johnson: Agreed that courts should “step back” from Trump’s actions.
Musk, who has been granted sweeping powers to shrink the federal government, has used his platform, X, to attack judges personally.
“This evil judge must be fired,” Musk wrote after a court ruling reinstated health-related government webpages on topics including HIV prevention and reproductive health care.
He also demanded impeachment of a judge who blocked DOGE from accessing Treasury funds, calling the ruling “a corrupt judge protecting corruption.”
Legal Experts: Judiciary Independence at Risk
Legal scholars warn that Trump’s attacks on the courts could erode judicial independence and set a dangerous precedent.
Jeremy Paul, a law professor at Northeastern University, said Trump is trying to redefine the role of the judiciary.
“Under our system, up until now, it’s always been understood that it’s the courts that decide whether executive authority is legitimate or not,” Paul stated.
Claire Finkelstein, a law professor at the University of Pennsylvania, believes Trump’s real goal is to intimidate judges into resigning.
“The idea that he can start removing judges is fanciful, but he can make their lives so difficult they maybe start resigning. I think that’s part of the attempt here,” she explained.
Judicial Rulings: A Mixed Bag for Trump
Despite multiple court rulings against Trump, some judges have refused to issue immediate injunctions in certain cases, including:
- DOGE’s access to the Labor Department
- Allegations that Musk’s department uses private email servers
- The shutdown of the CBP One app for asylum seekers
However, legal battles over these policies are ongoing, with more lawsuits expected.
Trump’s Legal Battles: A Growing Pattern
Since Trump took office on Jan. 20, more than 60 lawsuits have been filed against his administration’s actions.
Legal experts note that lawsuits against presidents are not unusual, but the sheer volume of litigation against Trump’s orders is remarkable.
Willy Jay, a former assistant solicitor general and law clerk to Justice Antonin Scalia, noted:
“The sheer concentration of activity is unusual. But the idea that basically everything of significance on the administration’s side is immediately challenged by state attorneys general of the other party? That seems to have been a constant over the last two to three administrations.”
What’s Next? Will Trump Push Further Against the Courts?
The battle between Trump’s White House and the judiciary is unlikely to ease anytime soon. Key questions remain:
- Will GOP lawmakers successfully limit the courts’ power?
- Will Trump escalate his rhetoric against judges if more rulings go against him?
- Could judicial resignations or impeachment efforts reshape the courts?
With Trump’s allies ramping up efforts to curb judicial authority and Republican leaders backing the president, the clash between the executive and judicial branches could define the next four years.
For now, Trump’s administration insists it will comply with court rulings but remains confident it will win on appeal.
“These rulings have no basis in the law,” Press Secretary Leavitt said.
“We believe we will ultimately be vindicated.”
As more legal challenges unfold, the integrity of judicial review itself may be on trial.
Judicial Battles Heat Judicial Battles Heat
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