Elon Musk and Donald Trump’s allies lashed out at federal judges on Tuesday after rulings blocked key initiatives, including ending birthright citizenship. Musk took to X, calling for the removal of a judge who ordered U.S. health agencies to restore websites taken down under Trump’s executive order. “The notion of a judge job for life, no matter how bad the judgments, is ridiculous!” he posted.
Trump blamed “highly political judges” for slowing his agenda but later said he would appeal unfavorable rulings. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt called injunctions against Trump “weaponized justice.”
Senator Josh Hawley, a former Supreme Court clerk, defended the judiciary, stating, “You may think that’s not the right ruling, but they’re still the law.” The American Bar Association warned that attacks on judges threaten democracy.
Vice President JD Vance also criticized judicial authority after a judge blocked Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) staff from accessing Treasury payment records. Musk reposted photos of judges and criticized law firms challenging Trump policies.
Trump has a history of attacking judges, previously questioning rulings based on a judge’s heritage. Musk’s X platform has also defied court orders, as seen in Brazil last year.
Over 50 lawsuits challenge Trump policies on spending, administrative law, and worker protections. A judge recently found the administration in defiance of an order to maintain federal grants. Democratic attorneys general are preparing legal responses if Trump ignores rulings.
Chief Justice John Roberts has warned that misinformation and violent threats undermine judicial independence. Meanwhile, Joe Biden, in his final year, proposed term limits for the Supreme Court, calling it an “extreme court.”
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