On Thursday, former President Donald Trump called on the U.S. Supreme Court to curb the power of federal judges to issue nationwide injunctions blocking his administration’s policies, highlighting a growing tension between the Republican leader and the judiciary. Trump argued that these injunctions were a serious threat to his agenda, urging the Court to take immediate action.
Since returning to office in January, Trump has faced over 100 lawsuits challenging his administration’s actions, with federal judges issuing broad rulings to halt policies like his attempt to limit automatic birthright citizenship. These judicial orders have sparked frustration within the administration.
In a post on social media, Trump wrote, “STOP NATIONWIDE INJUNCTIONS NOW, BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE. If Justice Roberts and the United States Supreme Court do not fix this toxic and unprecedented situation IMMEDIATELY, our Country is in very serious trouble!”
This appeal comes as the Supreme Court, with its 6-3 conservative majority, is under pressure to address the reach of judicial orders. Trump appointed three justices during his presidency, and his legal team recently asked the Court to narrow the scope of a nationwide injunction blocking his policy on birthright citizenship, which aligns with his hardline immigration stance.
The Justice Department filed the request on March 13, challenging nationwide injunctions issued by federal judges in Washington state, Massachusetts, and Maryland, which prevented Trump’s birthright citizenship order from taking effect.
Trump’s comments also follow a recent rebuke from Chief Justice John Roberts. On Tuesday, Roberts criticized the president’s call to impeach a federal judge overseeing a case involving the deportation of Venezuelan migrants accused of gang affiliation. Roberts reminded Trump that impeachment is not a proper response to judicial decisions, stating, “For more than two centuries, it has been established that impeachment is not an appropriate response to disagreement concerning a judicial decision.”
Nationwide injunctions have not been exclusive to Trump’s administration. Previous presidents, including Democrat Joe Biden, have faced similar roadblocks. For instance, Biden’s student loan debt cancellation plan was temporarily blocked by a nationwide injunction, a policy ultimately challenged and upheld by the Supreme Court.
With the ongoing conflict between the executive branch and the judiciary, Trump’s latest push signals the growing stakes for his administration’s policies and the role of federal judges in shaping national legislation.
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