Category: Attack the Judiciary

Trump administration terminates agreements to protect transgender students in several schools | The Independent

The Trump administration’s Education Department terminated civil rights agreements on Monday that protected transgender students across five school districts and one college. The districts involved are Cape Henlopen School District in Delaware, Fife School District in Washington, Delaware Valley School District in Pennsylvania, and La Mesa-Spring Valley School District, Sacramento City Unified, and Taft College in California. By ending these agreements, the department ceased enforcement of protections that required schools to comply with federal civil rights law, specifically Title IX’s prohibition on sex discrimination in education.

Previous administrations under Barack Obama and Joe Biden had interpreted Title IX to include safeguards for transgender and gay students. The Trump administration reversed this interpretation and has instead launched coordinated attacks on schools accommodating transgender students. The department filed lawsuits in California and Minnesota against state policies allowing transgender students to participate in interscholastic sports and opened civil rights investigations targeting schools and universities over their transgender student policies.

This termination represents an abuse of power by withdrawing federal protections that previously ensured schools took steps to safeguard vulnerable students. By unilaterally ending these agreements without Congressional action, the Trump administration demonstrates its willingness to weaponize the Education Department against transgender youth and the districts attempting to provide them safe educational environments.

(Source: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/education-department-washington-trump-school-district-california-b2952614.html)

Trump Calls Vance the ‘Fraud Czar.’ Here’s What We Know About the Role

President Donald Trump designated Vice President J.D. Vance as the country’s “fraud czar” on Friday, claiming that fraud is “massive and pervasive” in the United States. Trump stated in a Truth Social post that Vance would coordinate anti-fraud efforts “everywhere,” but primarily in Democratic-led states including California, Illinois, Minnesota, Maine, and New York, asserting without evidence that addressing fraud could help balance the federal budget.

Vance’s authority stems from an Executive Order Trump signed on March 16 establishing a national anti-fraud task force to combat fraud, waste, and abuse in federal benefit programs. Vance serves as chairman of the task force and held its first meeting last week, calling for a “whole-government approach” to address both the theft of taxpayer money and the disruption of critical services that Americans depend on.

The Trump administration has already targeted specific states under the fraud initiative. Minnesota experienced a federal freeze on childcare funding and suspension of more than $250 million in Medicaid funding, while California saw federal officials announce the arrest of eight individuals accused of health care fraud schemes in and near Los Angeles. Vance’s task force also suspended more than 200 hospice and health care providers in California.

In January, Vance created a new Justice Department position dedicated to fraud investigation, and Trump subsequently named Colin McDonald as Assistant Attorney General for National Fraud Enforcement. McDonald was sworn in by Vance on Wednesday and will report directly to both Vance and the President, establishing a direct line of authority outside traditional judicial independence structures.

Democratic governors have pushback against the administration’s fraud allegations. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and California Governor Gavin Newsom both stated their states have worked for years to combat fraud and pointed to Trump’s previous pardons of individuals convicted on fraud charges, undermining claims of systematic Democratic malfeasance.

(Source: https://time.com/article/2026/04/03/trump-vance-fraud-czar/)

Trump attends Supreme Court birthright citizenship arguments : NPR

Donald Trump became the first sitting president to attend Supreme Court oral arguments on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, showing up to watch proceedings in Barbara v. Trump, which challenges his executive order denying automatic citizenship to babies born in the U.S. to undocumented or temporarily present parents. Trump's motorcade arrived at the court around 10 a.m. ET and departed approximately 11:20 a.m., as Solicitor General D. John Sauer wrapped up arguments defending the administration's position, but Trump left before hearing opposing arguments from the American Civil Liberties Union.

Trump's attendance at oral arguments marked a breach of democratic norms, as the president's physical presence in the courtroom is widely understood to constitute an attempt to intimidate the justices and exert pressure on their deliberations. Even Trump acknowledged this concern in 2025, when he abandoned plans to attend tariff case arguments, stating he did not want to distract from the court's decision-making. His reversal this time demonstrated his willingness to disregard institutional protocols and the independence of the judiciary when pursuing his agenda.

The executive order at issue has not taken effect because multiple lower courts immediately ruled it unconstitutional, finding birthright citizenship—established by the 14th Amendment in 1868—to be a settled constitutional principle. Trump's administration argues the amendment has been interpreted too broadly and appealed lower court rulings to the Supreme Court. The Trump administration is actively seeking the Supreme Court's intervention to implement these restrictions on birthright citizenship, despite over 30 countries worldwide sharing similar birthright citizenship laws.

Approximately one hour after departing, Trump posted on Truth Social that the United States was "the only Country in the World STUPID enough to allow 'Birthright' Citizenship," a false characterization demonstrating his misrepresentation of the policy's prevalence internationally. When questioned about which justices he would monitor closely, Trump stated he loved some and disliked others, again characterizing Republican-nominated justices who rule against him as disloyal and stupid while asserting that Democratic-appointed justices automatically rule against him regardless of case merit.

The Supreme Court, currently composed of a 6-3 conservative supermajority including three justices appointed by Trump, is expected to issue its decision by late

Trump Calls America Stupid After Leaving Supreme Court Birthright Citizenship Hearing

President Donald Trump attended Supreme Court arguments regarding his administration’s attempt to eliminate birthright citizenship through executive order, then departed midway through proceedings. Trump’s Solicitor General John Sauer was completing his presentation when Trump left the chamber, and multiple justices appointed by Trump himself voiced skepticism about the administration’s constitutional arguments to strip automatic citizenship rights.

After the hearing concluded, Trump posted on Truth Social attacking the United States as “stupid” for permitting birthright citizenship, falsely claiming America stands alone in this practice. According to Pew Research Center data, 32 other nations maintain substantially similar birthright citizenship laws, predominantly in the Western Hemisphere, while approximately 50 additional countries employ more limited variations of the same principle.

The Supreme Court is currently deliberating whether Trump possesses unilateral executive authority to redefine citizenship standards through presidential order. The justices’ apparent reservations about the administration’s legal position, coupled with Trump’s public contempt for the nation’s founding constitutional framework, underscore the stakes of this proceeding, which will produce a decision by July.

(Source: https://www.independent.co.uk/bulletin/news/trump-supreme-court-birthright-citizenship-debate-stupid-b2950293.html)

Trump Attacks Court Halt of $400M Ballroom

President Donald Trump attacked a federal court ruling that halted construction of his $400 million White House ballroom on Truth Social Tuesday. Judge Richard Leon granted the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s request for a preliminary injunction, determining that Trump cannot proceed until Congress approves the project.

In his post, Trump characterized the ballroom as “under budget, ahead of schedule, being built at no cost to the Taxpayer.” The project, which began in 2025 after Trump demolished the White House’s East Wing, is funded by private donors and Trump personally. The National Trust for Historic Preservation, along with seven other organizations, filed suit on March 23 seeking Congressional approval for the ballroom and separate renovations to the Kennedy Center.

Trump expanded his attack to criticize the National Trust as a “Radical Left Group of Lunatics,” claiming the organization is selectively targeting his projects while ignoring other government construction failures. He specifically cited the Federal Reserve Building, which he alleged is “BILLIONS over budget,” and California Governor Gavin Newsom’s rail project, claiming both received no legal action from the preservation group despite massive cost overruns.

Trump also announced plans to rename the Kennedy Center as “The Trump Kennedy Center,” describing the renovation as a “show of Bipartisan Unity.” He characterized the Kennedy Center as “dilapidated and structurally unsound” and stated his work involves “fixing, cleaning, running, and ‘sprucing up’ a terribly maintained” facility.

The court’s preliminary injunction requires Congressional approval before the ballroom project can resume. Trump’s Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has previously defended the ballroom project against media criticism, while Trump has personally displayed his preoccupation with the construction during official meetings.

(Source: https://www.mediaite.com/politics/trump-rages-at-court-ruling-to-halt-ballroom-in-wild-attack-filled-post/)

Miller Pushes States to Strip Education Rights from Undocumented

Stephen Miller, Trump’s senior immigration adviser, is orchestrating a campaign to dismantle the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment by encouraging Republican-led states to deny public education funding to undocumented children. Miller raised this idea in a closed-door meeting with Texas lawmakers in Washington, citing congressional gridlock as justification for state-level action that would challenge the 1982 Supreme Court precedent in Plyler v. Doe, which mandated free public education for undocumented children as a constitutional right.

If enacted, Miller’s proposal would classify approximately one million children as members of a subordinate class excluded from mainstream society. As Justice William Brennan wrote in the Plyler decision, denying these children basic education forecloses their ability to contribute to the nation’s progress and violates the 14th Amendment’s guarantee that “The 14th Amendment to the Constitution is not confined to the protection of citizens.” Miller’s strategy aims to use state legislation as a testing ground to weaken federal constitutional protections, encouraging other Republican states and federal lawmakers to follow suit.

Miller’s assault on the 14th Amendment extends beyond education policy and represents a broader assault on the constitutional protections established after the Civil War. The 14th Amendment was designed as a political text to ensure equal protection and citizenship rights for all people, directly extending the prohibitions of the 13th Amendment against slavery and involuntary servitude. Miller’s crusade against immigration and his efforts to strip constitutional protections from vulnerable populations reveal an intent to fundamentally reshape American democracy by dismantling the legal and political framework designed to prevent the creation of subordinate classes.

(Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/28/opinion/stephen-miller-birthright-citizenship-14th-amendment.html)

Trump administration announces new probes into Harvard over race and religion | The Independent

The Trump administration’s Education Department has opened two new federal investigations into Harvard University, alleging the institution discriminates against students based on race, color, and national origin in violation of federal law. The probes will examine whether Harvard employs race-based preferences in admissions following the 2023 Supreme Court ruling that ended affirmative action in higher education, and will also investigate allegations of antisemitism on campus. Harvard’s spokesperson rejected the accusations, stating the university is “firmly committed to confronting antisemitism,” does not discriminate on grounds of race, and complies with all applicable laws including the Supreme Court’s 2023 decision.

The investigations represent part of the Trump administration’s broader campaign targeting universities over pro-Palestinian protests, transgender policies, climate programs, and diversity initiatives. Last week, the administration sued Harvard seeking billions of dollars for allegedly failing to protect Jewish students, while a separate February lawsuit demanded documents to determine whether the university considered race in admissions. Academic advocates have warned these efforts could violate privacy rights and constitute “a tool for anti-civil rights enforcement,” according to a former Biden administration official.

Pro-Palestinian protesters, including some Jewish groups, argue the government conflates legitimate criticism of Israel’s military actions in Gaza and its occupation of Palestinian territories with antisemitism, and wrongly characterizes Palestinian rights advocacy as support for extremism. The Trump administration has not initiated equivalent investigations into allegations of Islamophobia or anti-Palestinian bias at universities. Legal and judicial obstacles have impeded the administration’s efforts to freeze federal funding at universities, though it has reached settlement deals with some institutions including Columbia University, which agreed to pay over $200 million.

Academic experts have flagged concerns that settlement agreements set a dangerous precedent for “pay-to-play” arrangements between the government and universities. Harvard’s spokesperson characterized the new investigations as “retaliatory actions” against the university for refusing to “surrender our independence and constitutional rights.” A deal to resolve the multiple probes against Harvard remains unresolved, as the administration continues escalating its pressure campaign against the institution.

(Source: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-harvard-university-investigations-race-religion-b2944219.html)

Trump Goon Stages Public Meltdown After Judge Humiliates Her

U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro experienced a public meltdown during a press conference after Federal District Court Chief Judge James Boasberg ruled against her office’s investigation into Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell. Judge Boasberg determined that Pirro’s probe was motivated by President Donald Trump’s desire to remove Powell and lower interest rates, blocking subpoenas the office had issued to the Federal Reserve Board.

Pirro denounced the ruling as “outrageous” and “the antithesis of American justice,” claiming it had “neutered the grand jury’s ability to investigate crime” and granted Powell immunity. She vowed to appeal the decision while attacking Powell for posting a video announcing the subpoenas, accusing him of calling “friends” to “gin up support for himself.” Her comments demonstrated how Trump’s weaponization of the DOJ against perceived enemies extended to targeting the Federal Reserve chairman.

During the question-and-answer session, Pirro became hostile toward reporters. When asked about her office’s failure to prosecute six Democratic members of Congress who posted a video reminding military personnel they can refuse unlawful orders, she erupted, declaring she was “not here to talk about six members of Congress” and dismissing the question with visible irritation.

The press conference deteriorated further when Pirro screamed at a final reporter to “cut it out,” then launched into an incoherent tirade about her prosecution record compared to her predecessor. She boasted about prosecuting cases at higher rates than the previous U.S. Attorney, then abruptly ended the event and left the stage without further comment.

The incident exemplifies how Trump appointees use federal law enforcement to target political adversaries while misusing the machinery of justice. Pirro’s abuse of power in pursuing a baseless investigation against Powell, combined with her failure to prosecute Trump’s political allies and her hostile reaction to legitimate scrutiny, underscores the authoritarian capture of federal institutions under Trump’s direction.

(Source: https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/trump-goon-stages-public-meltdown-232814034.html)

Trump Claims He’s Entitled to Illegal Third Term

President Donald Trump declared Friday that he is “entitled” to an unconstitutional third term, stating at a Texas port event, “Maybe we do one more term…we are entitled to it.” This assertion follows his State of the Union address Tuesday, where he repeated his false claim that Democrats stole the 2020 election and characterized a third term as rightfully his, contradicting the 22nd Amendment, which limits presidents to two terms.

Trump has repeatedly alluded to extending his presidency beyond constitutional limits, admiring authoritarian leaders like Chinese President Xi Jinping, who eliminated term limits in 2018. Republican allies including Senator Lindsey Graham and convicted fraudster Steve Bannon, whom Trump pardoned, have publicly backed a third term for Trump’s administration. A constitutional amendment enabling a third term remains impossible by 2028, forcing Trump and his allies to pursue alternative strategies centered on voter suppression.

Right-wing activists are drafting an executive order granting the president “extraordinary power over voting,” according to reporting by The Washington Post. The draft order, published by Democracy Dockets in April 2025, contains numerous errors and falsely cites Chinese election interference as justification, despite the Office of the Director of National Intelligence concluding no such interference occurred. National security expert Marc Polymeropoulos characterized the draft order as “authoritarian.”

The effort to suppress voting ahead of the 2026 midterm elections demonstrates Trump’s systematic abuse of power to manipulate electoral outcomes rather than pursue legitimate constitutional amendments. Trump’s cabinet meetings have showcased alarming acceptance of authoritarian governance, while banners displaying Trump’s image on federal buildings signal his control over government institutions. These actions construct the infrastructure for permanent authoritarian rule.

(Source: https://www.rawstory.com/trump-2675435238/)

Trump Escalates Global Tariffs to 15% After Court

Donald Trump announced a 15% global tariff effective immediately on Saturday via Truth Social, escalating from the 10% levy he imposed Friday after the Supreme Court struck down his reciprocal tariff policy. Trump claimed the higher rate was “fully allowed, and legally tested,” attacking the court’s decision as “ridiculous, poorly written, and extraordinarily anti-American” while asserting countries have been “ripping off” the United States for decades.

The British Chambers of Commerce condemned the increase as damaging to UK businesses, warning that the additional 5% tariff on most British exports would harm trade, US consumers, and global economic growth. William Bain, head of trade policy at the BCC, stated the announcement proved their fears that Trump’s backup plan would be worse than his initial proposal and called for businesses to receive “clarity and certainty” rather than escalating tariffs.

Britain had negotiated the lowest initial rate of 10% under a deal between Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Trump, with carve-outs protecting steel, automobiles, and pharmaceuticals. The UK government indicated it expected these preferential arrangements to remain intact under the new 15% framework, though officials acknowledged uncertainty about the tariff’s full implications for British trade.

Trump bypassed Congress by signing an executive order Friday invoking emergency powers after the Supreme Court overturned his reciprocal tariffs policy, allowing him to unilaterally increase import taxes. His escalation to 15% followed his public attacks on Supreme Court justices as “unpatriotic and disloyal” for blocking his previous tariff authority.

(Source: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/president-donald-trump-keir-starmer-government-uk-government-b2925023.html)

1 2 3 4 … 11