Category: Defy Judiciary

Trump administration openly defying the court

Trump Demands GOP ‘TERMINATE’ Filibuster to Combat Democrats

Trump demanded Republicans eliminate the Senate filibuster to prevent Democrats from investigating election integrity, according to a Truth Social post on Saturday. Trump accused Democrats of hiring “sleazebags” like former Attorney General Eric Holder to probe voter integrity, framing the task force as part of a conspiracy to rig the 2026 midterms and 2028 election. Trump falsely claimed Democrats “rigged” the 2020 election he lost to President Joe Biden and called Democratic efforts to investigate election security “treasonous” and a “War” against the United States.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer announced a new task force days earlier to protect the 2026 midterms from what he described as threats posed by Trump and his supporters. Schumer stated Trump has “stacked his administration with election deniers” and accused Trump of using the SAVE Act, which requires proof of citizenship to vote, to disenfranchise millions of Americans. Holder is participating as an expert advisor to the group of senators.

Trump has repeatedly demanded filibuster elimination since returning to office in 2025, claiming it “hurts” Republicans. Senator Ron Johnson (R-Wisconsin) joined Trump’s demand last week, telling Fox News it is imperative to eliminate the filibuster during what he called a “moment of national danger,” following an assassination attempt on Trump at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. Some Republican lawmakers have signaled they support eliminating the procedural rule.

Trump’s demand to terminate the filibuster reflects his broader push to consolidate power and remove institutional checks on his authority, consistent with prior threats against Republicans resisting filibuster elimination. The SAVE Act, which Trump championed, has stalled in the Senate where Democrats oppose it, making filibuster elimination central to Trump’s legislative agenda.

(Source: https://www.mediaite.com/politics/trump-demands-gop-terminate-the-filibuster-with-dems-hiring-sleazebags-to-probe-voter-integrity-get-tough-republicans-theyre-coming/)

Trump Promotes ‘Secure’ White House Ballroom After Shooting

President Trump used a shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner on April 25, 2026, to advance his $400 million White House Ballroom project. In a Truth Social post the morning after the incident, Trump claimed the ballroom’s military-grade security features would have prevented the shooting and demanded immediate construction without further legal delay.

Trump’s post attacked the legal challenge to the ballroom, dismissing the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s lawsuit as frivolous and brought by “a woman walking her dog” with “absolutely No Standing.” He demanded the “ridiculous” lawsuit be “dropped immediately” and insisted nothing should interfere with construction, which he claimed was “on budget and substantially ahead of schedule.”

District Judge Richard Leon halted construction in March, ruling that Trump lacks statutory authority to proceed without express congressional authorization. The Trump administration had demolished the White House East Wing in October 2025 to make room for the ballroom, a project that has sparked constitutional and preservation concerns as Trump previously attacked the court ruling blocking the ballroom.

Trump’s invocation of security threats to bypass judicial oversight and congressional approval reflects a pattern of using crises to justify abuse of power and consolidation of executive authority, weaponizing a tragedy to advance a vanity project that violates constitutional checks on presidential power.

(Source: https://www.mediaite.com/media/news/trump-promotes-large-safe-and-secure-ballroom-after-shooting/)

Trump ICE Detention Crisis Forces Federal Judges to Issue Sanctions

Federal judges across California are confronting a crisis in immigration detention created by the Trump administration’s mandatory detention policy. Since July 2025, the Department of Homeland Security has ordered all arrested immigrants held without bond, a dramatic expansion from the previous policy that applied only to those caught at the border. This change followed Trump’s signing of a spending bill allocating $45 billion to expand federal immigrant detention facilities.

The surge in detentions has overwhelmed California’s federal courts, particularly the Eastern District, which received over 2,700 habeas corpus petitions since January 2026 compared to fewer than 500 the previous year. Chief Judge Troy Nunley declared a judicial emergency in the district and sanctioned a Department of Justice attorney $250 for repeatedly violating court orders to release detained immigrants. Many detainees are longtime U.S. residents with no criminal records who were arrested during routine immigration check-ins, including an Afghan who supported American military efforts and a Cambodian grandmother who fled the Khmer Rouge.

Habeas corpus petitions, once reserved for death row inmates and suspected terrorists, have become the only recourse for immigrants seeking release. Judge Nunley stated that “the majority of the cases that we see are cases where people should not be detained” and emphasized that detainees are entitled to the same due process protections as any other person. However, some government lawyers have argued that the Fifth Amendment does not apply to detained immigrants, contradicting constitutional guarantees of due process.

The Trump administration’s policy has created procedural chaos across federal districts. Judge Sunshine Sykes of California’s Central District issued a decision describing the administration’s enforcement as inflicting “terror against noncitizens,” though the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals blocked her order requiring bond hearings. Federal judges unprepared for the volume of immigration cases are working nights to process emergency motions, while government attorneys claim they are overwhelmed by more than 300 cases assigned in three months.

Nationwide, nearly a quarter of approximately 30,000 active habeas petitions are filed in California courts, with half concentrated in Nunley’s Eastern District. Legal experts anticipate the dispute over mandatory detention will reach the Supreme Court as challenges progress through multiple appellate circuits. Judges across the country have expressed frustration that the Trump administration’s enforcement blitz has created a system that denies detainees the opportunity to gather evidence or consult with lawyers while forcing them to file emergency constitutional petitions instead of receiving standard bond hearings.

(Source: https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2026-04-19/trump-doj-habeas-corpus-immigration-detention)

Trump Demands No Judge Stop His Military Ballroom

President Donald Trump posted inflammatory messages on Truth Social attacking Judge Richard Leon’s ruling on his $400 million White House ballroom project, characterizing the structure as militarily essential and declaring “no Judge can be allowed to stop” its construction. Trump’s posts came after Leon issued a revised order allowing underground construction of bunkers, bomb shelters, and military installations while prohibiting Trump from finalizing the above-ground ballroom design without Congressional approval, which the project still lacks.

Trump accused Leon of undermining national security and engaging in “illegal overreach,” claiming the ballroom is vital for presidential safety during events, inaugurations, and global summits. In his lengthy Truth Social rant, Trump detailed the ballroom’s purported military features, including missile-resistant steel, drone-proof ceilings, blast-proof glass, and military-grade venting, framing these specifications as necessary for protecting future presidents and world leaders.

Trump insisted the underground and above-ground portions are inseparable, claiming the underground sections serve no purpose without the upper structure and that the entire project is “tied together as one big, expensive, and very complex unit.” He further asserted that material worth hundreds of millions of dollars has already been ordered and partially paid for, suggesting the court order threatens investments already committed to the construction.

The ballroom remains funded through private donations and Trump’s personal cash rather than taxpayer money, yet Trump has framed judicial oversight as obstructing national defense. Trump previously attacked the court halt, and his administration appointed an unqualified receptionist to the Commission of Fine Arts, illustrating his pattern of circumventing institutional expertise and oversight on the project.

Trump’s assertion that judges cannot stop the project defies judicial authority and the requirement for Congressional approval, establishing a precedent for executive defiance of court orders. His characterization of legitimate legal review as “Trump Hating” and a “mockery to our Court System” exemplifies his broader pattern of attacking judicial independence when rulings oppose his interests.

(Source: https://www.mediaite.com/politics/trump-drops-wild-post-about-his-militarily-imperative-ballroom-no-judge-can-be-allowed-to-stop-it/)

Acting AG Blanche Denies DOJ Weaponization While Targeting

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche defended the Trump administration’s use of the Justice Department against political rivals during a White House press conference on Tuesday, dismissing concerns about weaponization as “completely false.” Blanche instead inverted the accusation, claiming that former President Joe Biden’s DOJ had weaponized the department against Trump in an unprecedented manner by pursuing multiple indictments and supporting local prosecutions, including the Manhattan hush-money case and the Georgia election interference case.

Blanche criticized media outlets for what he characterized as selective outrage, stating that journalists had ignored Biden-era prosecutions of Trump but now complained when the Trump administration targeted his political rivals. He argued that Trump and his associates, including family members, staff, and security personnel, had been subjected to “massive investigations” under the previous administration. Blanche has previously boasted about purging federal employees from the DOJ and FBI who investigated Trump, describing the effort as necessary reforms rather than political retaliation.

The acting attorney general reframed the Trump administration’s prosecutorial actions as pursuing “justice” rather than political vengeance, claiming the president has repeatedly stated he wants the department to serve the rule of law. However, the administration has already expanded DOJ investigations into Democratic officials, including subpoenaing Minnesota Democratic leaders over immigration policies. Blanche’s remarks occurred less than a week after Trump dismissed former Attorney General Pam Bondi and appointed him to lead the Justice Department.

The controversy over DOJ misuse reflects a pattern within the Trump administration of conflating investigations into Trump’s own legal exposure with claims of Democratic weaponization. Blanche, Trump’s former criminal defense lawyer now serving as acting attorney general, has already demonstrated willingness to suppress information, including announcing in advance that the department would withhold documents related to the Jeffrey Epstein files despite legal requirements for transparency. The administration’s deployment of the DOJ against Democratic targets contradicts its public denial of political prosecutions.

(Source: https://www.mediaite.com/politics/new-ag-todd-blanche-fumes-over-question-about-weaponization-of-doj-against-trump-enemies/)

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)

Donald Trump tells House Republicans: SAVE America Act will ‘guarantee the midterms’

President Trump demanded House Republicans pass the SAVE America Act, claiming the voting restrictions bill will “guarantee the midterms” and threatening to block all other legislation until it passes. The measure requires proof of citizenship to register and photo ID to vote, cleared the House in February with a 218-213 vote, and stalled in the Senate where Democrats oppose it as voter suppression. Trump instructed Republicans to expand the bill with provisions banning mail-in voting except for illness, disability, military service, or travel, and prohibiting transgender athletes from women’s sports.

Trump declared at the House GOP annual conference in Florida that supporters demand the bill, stating “The people are demanding it. Every time I go out, save America! Save America!” He added that passage will secure Republican victories in midterms and future elections. Trump refused compromise, instructing Republicans to “go for the gold” and reject any watered-down version, saying “I’m not going to sign anything until this is approved.”

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer characterized the measure as “Jim Crow 2.0” that would disenfranchise tens of millions, stating Senate Democrats will not support it under any circumstances. Senate Majority Leader John Thune previously warned that forcing a voting rights blockade would derail government funding legislation and bipartisan housing affordability bills. On Monday, Thune called a talking filibuster “much more complicated and risky than people are assuming.”

Trump and Republican allies have pressured Thune to invoke a talking filibuster to bypass Democratic opposition, which would require continuous floor speeches before allowing a 51-vote passage. Trump stated Monday the Senate must approve the bill, saying “they’re going to have to go the filibuster, and maybe it’s going to be the talking filibuster.” This demand weaponizes the legislative process to strip voting protections after Trump previously threatened to bypass Congress on voter identification.

(Source: https://thehill.com/homenews/house/5776058-trump-republicans-save-america-act-midterms/?fbclid=IwdGRleAQdsa1leHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEex7bhCMsV80DMDXzu1ndC-egejwQFV_z_eaV5pIVsdL5gPPCq6huJMQLeWng_aem_5W7f_iWpLLaUtqGIKFSOyA)

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)

Trump Imposes 10% Global Tariff After Supreme Court

President Donald Trump announced a blanket 10% tariff on all countries effective immediately after the Supreme Court struck down his reciprocal tariffs policy on Friday. Trump claimed the court “has been swayed by foreign interests” and stated he signed the order from the Oval Office, asserting the decision actually affirmed his ability to impose tariffs under different statutory authorities including Section 232 and Section 301.

The Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that a 1977 law did not grant Trump power to impose tariffs without Congressional approval, delivering a major blow to his economic agenda. However, Trump doubled down by invoking alternative tariff statutes he claims remain “fully allowed,” stating the new 10% global tariff would be implemented under Section 122 and would remain in place for approximately five months while his administration conducts investigations to determine additional tariffs on specific countries.

The UK received the lowest tariff rate of 10% under Trump’s previous reciprocal scheme, and a deal negotiated by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer included carve-outs for British steel and car manufacturers. British officials stated they expect the UK’s “privileged trading position with the US” to continue, though the Supreme Court decision raises uncertainty about whether existing preferential trade agreements will remain valid, as Trump indicated some negotiated deals will no longer stand while others will be replaced.

Trump stated the US has collected more than 133 billion dollars since imposing tariffs but now faces potential refund obligations to importers following the court ruling. Trump has previously used tariff threats as leverage against world leaders, demonstrating his willingness to weaponize trade policy for personal negotiating advantage.

British business groups criticized the uncertainty created by the ruling. The British Chambers of Commerce warned the decision did little to “clear the murky waters for business” and noted Trump could reimpose tariffs using alternative legislation, while campaign group Best for Britain characterized Trump’s approach as demonstrating the instability of conducting trade deals with his administration.

(Source: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/oval-office-truth-social-president-keir-starmer-b2924786.html)

Trump Vows Executive Order Voter ID Mandate Bypassing Congress

President Donald Trump announced Friday via social media that he would issue an executive order mandating voter identification for midterm elections if Congress does not pass legislation to that effect. Trump stated, “There will be Voter I.D. for the Midterm Elections, whether approved by Congress or not!” and claimed there are “legal reasons” supporting such an order, though he provided no specifics. The House passed the SAVE America Act on Wednesday with unanimous Republican support, requiring states to obtain documentary proof of citizenship before voter registration and imposing new mail-in ballot restrictions.

Legal experts directly contradicted Trump’s authority to unilaterally alter election procedures. Stanford law professor Nate Persily stated the Constitution explicitly grants election regulation power to state legislatures, not the president, and that “the Constitution is clear on this.” Rick Hasen, director of the Safeguarding Democracy Project at UCLA School of Law, said any executive order requiring states to comply with Trump’s voter ID mandate would “similarly be found to be unconstitutional” based on a federal judge’s January ruling that permanently blocked a prior Trump executive order attempting to alter voting laws. Trump issued that sweeping order in March 2025 seeking to impose mail-in ballot deadlines and citizenship proof requirements, which a federal court determined exceeded presidential authority.

The SAVE America Act now faces a Senate vote requiring 60 votes to succeed—an unlikely threshold given Democratic opposition and Republican defections. Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska became the first Republican senator to oppose the bill, noting that GOP colleagues claimed in 2021 to oppose federal election mandates imposed on states. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer characterized the legislation as imposing “Jim Crow type laws to the entire country” and declared it “dead on arrival in the Senate.” Democrats argue voter ID laws are designed to disenfranchise voters, emphasizing that voting by noncitizens is already illegal and exceedingly rare.

Persily connected Trump’s voter ID push to broader attempts to federalize election administration, including the FBI’s recent seizure of ballots and voter records from Fulton County, Georgia—a seizure Trump’s continued false claims about the 2020 election have motivated. Persily stated Trump’s push represents a coordinated effort: “It’s not an isolated tweet here, right? There’s a lot that’s going on. So you’ve got the action in the legislature, in Congress, you’ve got these, the earlier executive order, you have the seizing of the ballots and other materials from Fulton County, right? And so it’s all of a piece with the desire to have greater federal oversight of elections.”

Trump’s pattern of attempting to circumvent constitutional limits on presidential power reflects his stated goal to federalize election administration from states he deems incapable of running elections honestly, specifically targeting Democratic-led jurisdictions. His explicit threat to impose voter ID requirements “whether approved by Congress or not” contradicts the constitutional separation of powers and follows his documented history of pressuring state officials to overturn legitimate election results.

(Source: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/elections/trump-vows-voter-id-requirements-midterms-rcna259018)

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