GOP Threatens Judges Who Block Trump — But Was Happy When They Blocked Biden

WASHINGTON ― In April 2023, dozens of Republicans in Congress Kacsmaryk to his current court seat.

Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) admitted that both parties have celebrated nationwide injunctions when their party is not in control of the White House. He noted that Trump has seen more injunctions than either of his two Democratic predecessors ― a detail that almost certainly stems from the reality that Trump runs afoul of the law more often.

“I think Trump got hit with 87 in his first term and 30 so far,” Kennedy said. “But it is an equal opportunity abuse.”

Democrats pointed to Trump’s efforts to demolish federal agencies and freeze congressionally approved spending as some examples of how he’s pushed the limits of his authority far further than his predecessors. They also noted that he’s tried to do things like eliminate birthright citizenship, despite it being clearly established by the Constitution.

“They’re trying to stop these judges from even temporarily holding Trump up,” said Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), the top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee. “They want him to just be able to move ahead with all his executive orders without objection.”

At the heart of all of this is that Trump is mad because he keeps losing in court. One of the legal groups that’s been leading the way in challenging Trump in the courts ― and winning ― is Democracy Forward, a progressive legal organization that last month secured a nationwide preliminary injunction that halted Trump’s efforts to arbitrarily terminate federal grants relating to diversity, equity and inclusion programs.

Federal judges have served as “the source of protection for the American people” in countless cases since Trump took office,” said Skye Perryman, the organization’s president and CEO.

They’ve been “issuing orders of various types to ensure that those whose rights are affected and seek their day in court have protection against harmful and unlawful overreach by the government,” she said. “We invite the president and his allies to course correct and govern in the best interest of the American people and in accordance with the law.”

Perryman added, “Should they continue to shirk their duty to do so, you’ll see us ensure the American people have their rights protected in court.”