Former President Donald Trump lashed out at the Supreme Court on Saturday, accusing justices of succumbing to negative media coverage and failing to stand firm on key legal issues. In a fiery speech at a campaign rally, Trump expressed frustration over recent court rulings and suggested that conservative justices, including some he appointed, were not living up to expectations.
“They get weak,” Trump said. “Every time the media attacks them, they cave. They don’t have the courage to do what’s right.”
Trump’s remarks reflect his long-standing frustration with the judiciary, particularly the Supreme Court, which he has frequently criticized for rulings that did not align with his agenda. Despite appointing three conservative justices—Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrett—Trump has repeatedly voiced disappointment in the court’s decisions, particularly in cases related to elections, presidential immunity, and social policies.
Trump has a history of attacking judges and courts that rule against him. During his presidency, he frequently criticized federal judges and even labeled some as "Obama judges" when they issued rulings that obstructed his policies.
His latest comments about the Supreme Court continue that trend, but with a sharper focus on the perceived lack of loyalty from justices he personally selected.
“They don’t understand what’s at stake,” Trump said during his speech. “They should be the strongest defenders of our Constitution, but they care too much about what The New York Times or CNN says about them.”
His remarks come amid a series of high-profile legal battles involving Trump himself, including multiple criminal cases and challenges related to his eligibility for the 2024 presidential race. Some of these cases could eventually reach the Supreme Court, raising concerns about whether Trump’s public criticism is meant to pressure justices into ruling in his favor.
Trump’s relationship with the Supreme Court has been complicated. While he secured a solid conservative majority during his presidency, the court has not always ruled in his favor.
Most notably, it rejected several of his legal challenges to the 2020 election results, a decision that Trump has never fully accepted.
More recently, the Supreme Court has been expected to weigh in on legal questions surrounding Trump’s immunity from prosecution, ballot eligibility cases, and other issues that could directly impact his 2024 campaign. The former president’s latest attack on the justices signals his dissatisfaction with what he perceives as their unwillingness to shield him from legal consequences.
“They should be standing up for the Constitution, but instead, they’re afraid,” Trump said. “They don’t want the media coming after them. But you know what? They’re going to come after them anyway.”
Trump’s remarks may be aimed at reinforcing his political narrative that he is the victim of a biased judicial system. By casting the Supreme Court as weak and easily influenced by the press, he is likely trying to rally his base and maintain support among voters who see him as an outsider fighting against the establishment.
Legal analysts and constitutional scholars quickly responded to Trump’s latest criticism of the Supreme Court. Many argued that his attacks undermine public confidence in the judiciary and could set a dangerous precedent.
“One of the most critical aspects of the judiciary is its independence,” said former federal judge Michael Luttig. “When a former president openly attacks the integrity of the Supreme Court, it raises concerns about whether he respects the rule of law.”
Others suggested that Trump’s rhetoric is a strategic attempt to pressure the justices ahead of potential rulings on his legal battles.
“He’s laying the groundwork to claim that any ruling against him is illegitimate,” said constitutional law professor Laurence Tribe. “By suggesting that justices ‘get weak,’ he’s implying that they should be ruling in his favor based on loyalty rather than the law.”
While Trump remains the dominant force in the Republican Party, his criticism of the Supreme Court highlights a growing divide within conservative circles. Many Republicans celebrated Trump’s appointments to the high court as one of his most significant achievements, believing that a conservative majority would help reshape American law for generations.
However, Trump’s dissatisfaction with the court’s rulings has created tension. Some conservatives argue that the justices should not be expected to rule based on partisan loyalty but rather on constitutional principles.
Others worry that Trump’s repeated attacks on the judiciary could damage long-term Republican efforts to shape the legal landscape.
“There’s no question that the Supreme Court has delivered major conservative victories,” said former Attorney General William Barr. “But they are not an extension of any one president. Their duty is to interpret the Constitution, not to serve a political agenda.”
As Trump campaigns for another term in the White House, his rhetoric about the Supreme Court is likely to remain a key talking point. His supporters see his criticisms as part of his broader message that the establishment, including the courts, is working against him.
Meanwhile, his opponents argue that his attacks on judicial institutions are dangerous and erode trust in democracy.
The Supreme Court, for its part, has remained silent on Trump’s comments. Justices rarely respond to political criticism, and Chief Justice John Roberts has previously defended the judiciary’s independence, stating, “We do not have Obama judges or Trump judges, Bush judges or Clinton judges.”
Whether Trump’s comments will influence upcoming rulings remains to be seen, but his latest attack signals that he has no intention of backing down from his long-running battle with the courts. With several key legal cases looming, the former president’s relationship with the judiciary will continue to be a major storyline heading into the 2024 election.
