U.S. President Donald Trump slammed "highly political judges" Tuesday as his new administration veered closer to a constitutional clash with the courts over his plans to radically overhaul the government and amass power in the White House.
With the Republican Party controlling Congress and completely loyal to Trump, the billionaire president has largely ignored the legislature as he carries out his unprecedented policies.
But he has faced growing pushback from the courts since taking office three weeks ago, with U.S. media outlets reporting a dozen orders issued against the administration -- five of them on Monday alone -- from some 40 lawsuits.
As the courts and Trump appeared increasingly to be on a collision course, he lashed out on Truth Social.
"Billions of Dollars of FRAUD, WASTE, AND ABUSE, has already been found in the investigation of our incompetently run Government. Now certain activists and highly political judges want us to slow down, or stop," Trump posted.
"Losing this momentum will be very detrimental to finding the TRUTH, which is turning out to be a disaster for those involved in running our Government. Much left to find. No Excuses!!!"
Trump first ran up against the judiciary over an attempt to freeze $3 trillion in federal grants and loans, a deferred resignation program for government workers and a plan to transfer transgender inmates to men's prisons.
He has also clashed with judges over his abolition of birthright citizenship, sending Venezuelan migrants to Guantanamo Bay, funding cuts to the National Institutes of Health, firing a government ethics watchdog and placing workers from the US Agency for International Development (USAID) on leave.
Injunctions have been placed on each of these actions and there was further bad news Tuesday as a federal judge ordered Trump to restore a glut of public health web pages removed last month.
But concerns are mounting that Trump could ultimately defy the rulings, prompting a full-blown constitutional crisis.
Trump's harshest critics say that horse has already bolted after a federal judge upbraided the White House on Monday for failing to comply with his order to end the federal funding freeze.
Vice President JD Vance has fueled speculation over a coming clash, claiming in a social media post Sunday that judges lack authority to "control the executive's legitimate power."
In fact, the U.S. Constitution gives federal judges the right to rule on cases involving the president as part of their oversight role of the other branches of government.
Vance's comments -- which came after a judge blocked tech billionaire Elon Musk's so-called "Department of Government Efficiency" (DOGE) from accessing Americans' personal data -- earned him a rebuke from legal scholars and political opponents.
"If you believe any of the multiple federal courts that have ruled against you so far are exceeding their statutory or Constitutional authority, your recourse is to appeal," Liz Cheney, a former Republican lawmaker and vocal Trump critic, replied. "You don't get to rage-quit the Republic just because you are losing. That's tyranny."
The DOGE injunction also came under attack from Musk, who has called for an annual mass firing of federal judges and claims that democracy is "being destroyed by judicial coup."
But critics characterize the deluge of criticism from the world's richest man, the U.S. president and the vice president as a coordinated assault on the rule of law.
"This is not just a musing from a dude with some various ideas," tech commentator and veteran Musk watcher Kara Swisher said of the SpaceX and Tesla CEO. "The next step is to hollow out the judiciary and also not follow their rulings, which have been against Musk's efforts. This is a very obvious coup, for those not paying attention."
Meanwhile Republicans have scrambled to recalibrate publicly expressed conservative positions on government and the judiciary that now put them out of step with Trump.
Tom Cotton, chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, dismissed USAID as a "vanguard of the global left" -- four years after authoring a report that described it as a "powerful" tool in the "economic long war with China."
© 2025 AFP
84 Comments
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Underworld
You are doing it wrong, Don. You need to engage Congress.
But of course, working with Congress is a bit difficult for Trump. He wants to be King Trump, by the US is a republic, not a monarchy.
Newgirlintown
He’s long talked about ‘draining the swamp’ but when are voters going to realize that he is the swamp.
bass4funk
Dems are battling against the inevitable.
TaiwanIsNotChina
His Belligerency better back down from his destroy the government approach.
TaiwanIsNotChina
The courts have the final say because they aren't populated by people that can't run a casino. If Trump tries to mess with them, the Supreme Court won't stand for it.
TaiwanIsNotChina
Also remember, law enforcement up and down the country obey courts and not bathroom initiatives from the White House.
Yrral
Their are thousands of lawyers, know Trump is legally doomed, Trump may not go to.jail,but it will not stop Musk from facing civil contempt by a Federal judge
Dango bong
If the executive branch can not look at the what the executive branch is spending then we have no government.
Funny how no Dems are commenting on what Elon is finding... Just demonizing the audit.
JJE
Fantastic photo. An interesting gesture by Musk - the Triangle of Power.
Look at Little X, all dressed up smartly and watching the proceedings over the Resolute Desk - that little young man is clearly future presidential timber.
Slayer
Who said change would be easy? He is the man for the job, Finally, the USA has a real commander-in-chief.
CS
He is the alligator in the swamp.
Underworld
Dango bong
A payment system is for payments not spending. If Trump wants to know what is being spent and why, he can ask Congress.
I'veSeenFootage
He's clearly the most mature person in that picture.
Seth Majer
Pick and choose when to respect law enforcement eh?
ThePunisher
The US is losing any tiny shred of democracy it had left, day by day.
The photo says it all. An unelected South African billionaire, who is effectively the President's right hand man, lurking in the oval office - unanswerable to the public and most likely undismissable after the hundreds of millions of dollars he has paid for the privilege.
Sad to see the rapid decline. China is the biggest beneficiary and would be loving this.
bass4funk
The Dems will never look into this, they had 25 year to do so and they didn’t, Musk will march on, expose the corruption and Trump will continue to stop funding or issue more EO and then congress can see what needs to be permanently cut and the Dems and judges know this, it’s our money, every American has a right to know where their tax dollars would go, the SC would never deny the President or the American voter on this issue in the end.
Yrral
You foreigner do not know the power of a Federal judge or basis American law, even lots of American do not .know about the consequences of law , even Trump
itsonlyrocknroll
Elon Musk, joined by his son X Æ A-Xii,
Ok firstly for Musk junior......
Trust me, school will not be an experience you will cherish.
https://www.usa.gov/name-change
"Department of Government Efficiency" (DOGE) has a clear and valuable role to play, long overdue.
Needs to be lead by elected mandated political body of professionals. At the very top an elected member of congress/senate.
tooheysnew
Compare the colour of Trumps face to his hands
Yrral
It ,you know nothing about America or American law,we have Statutory legal ways to redress legal issues,not cartoonist one
Underworld
bass4funk
And judges will stop him. Trump needs to start with Congress. Anything else will be blocked by judges.
And unelected Elon can advise only.
WoodyLee
Amazing how G O Trump just keeps on giving, can't keep up anymore.
Yrral
Someone headed to jail in Trump administration
Politik Kills
was his previous ‘gesture’ also interesting to you?
sure, why not?
Σ(-᷅_-᷄๑)
ok1517
How much more does it take until even the most stupid ones understand that Donald is constructing a Germany 1933 Ver 2.0?
He goes after the opposition (fact), he goes after the free press (fact), he wants to annex foreign countries (fact), he puts those in charge who obey just him (fact), he disregards the legal system (fact), he spreads lies (fact), he isolates the US more and more (fact), he wants to deport thousands not just in his country (fact), he instigates, incites, and insults, ...... do I really have to continue?
Everything pointing in the "right direction"!
RESIST! Don't let it happen!
TokyoLiving
Those fine judges are the hope to save democracy against the belligerent criminal fascist little orange Duce of Mar-a-Lago..
TokyoLiving
Free world VS pathetic Nazi mockery of MAGA gang..
ClippetyClop
Poor kid, daddy named him after an algorithm or his fave slime mould or something weird.
theFu
Trump is wrong.
Judges are right.
If you don't like the rulings, appeal. That's the system in the US.
I'veSeenFootage
By actively engaging in it, of course.
tooheysnew
is that his real name? How do you pronounce it ?
Daddy has probably hired a bodyguard to protect him from all the beatings he would get.
diobrando
Master clown wqnts to be king/emperor but forgot centuries of law and constitution. He watched too much star wars...
Bob Fosse
The maga constitutional and free speech absolutists sure have twisted themselves into knots.
Yrral
Who is the court jester Trump or Musk
Tokyo Guy
He might as well come out and say it straight: laws don't apply to me.
Megan Thee Stallion
TokyoLivingToday 08:23 am JST
Free world VS pathetic Nazi mockery of MAGA gang..
MAGA aint Nazi but patriots and libheads aint Free world. Only pathetic thang is libhead insults and p&m. chill some, brotha.
KnightsOfCydonia
The One man show continues on.
At least there are some checks and balances right?
But hold on, maybe not?
US fast becoming a totalitarian state...
ulysses
President Musk is very very Presidential!!!
And his assistant sitting next to him does a great job too!!!!
ulysses
That is a great picture, President Musk and his boys!!!!
stormcrow
Musk / in so many words/ . . . Everything is transparent, but we're going to keep this investigation under wraps for 10 years. Now I have to send my gang of un-regulated teenagers out to dig around in your private and personal records.
BTW...Love this photo . . .
Musk's kid giving Trump the Damien stare.
Trump's thinking . . . Kid! Quit staring at me! You're giving me the creeps!
patkim
As long as Trump has his followers kiss the ring and they swear fealty to him, he won't bother with them. But as soon as they point out facts to him, that go against his own beliefs, then he'll brand you as being "too political" and having an agenda against him.
Every president before Trump understood that it takes hard work and diplomacy to lobby, talk with their constituents, raise interests in their policies, etc. Trump doesn't want to do that work. He thinks it's so simple to just come up with any idea that comes into his brain, no matter how ludicrous it may be, and automatically push it on the American people and that everyone will love him for it.
Take for instance attending the SuperBowl. Do you know why there has never been a sitting president attend such an event? It's because it's expensive. I don't want to even think how much of the taxpayers' money was spent on 20 minutes of attending a game, and the trouble it caused. Imagine the backlash if other past presidents wasted money in such a way.
Megan Thee Stallion
President Musk is very very Presidential!!!
And his assistant sitting next to him does a great job too!!!!
Word.
wallace
Who calls their son X I think it fits in with his ex-daughter a disowned transexual.
Dango bong
funny how no Democrats are saying a word about what Elon is finding....
In the end US citizens fully support this government audit and the executive branch has every right to look at what the government is spending on.
Dango bong
If Dems want to stall it won't help them next election cycle. I am sure Congress will oblige since the Democrats lost both houses...
Dango bong
Republicans: Let's look into the garbage our tax money is being wasted on...
Democrats: No!
Gee I wonder who wins the next election
Underworld
Dango bong
Because he’s not finding anything of significance.
itsonlyrocknroll
Elon Musk, joined by his son X Æ A-Xii
That moniker will be mangled beyond recognition, a sitting target in class for ridicule.
Musk judgement is questionable to say the least.
Taxpayers money has to be carefully managed by elected leaders officials.
Dango bong
Oh you prefer Democratic rich people like Nancy Pelosi and George Soros?
So far 1 Trillion dollars, some going to terrorists, some for housing illegal aliens and others for trans operas in Colombia. I would say that is something.
Zaphod
Another day, another Trump bashing article. It is interesting to check how many of these legacy media institutions were subsidized via "USAID".
I'veSeenFootage
Republicans: Let's look into the garbage our tax money is being wasted on... but not the tens of billions REAL garbage in the military budget! Juste the stuff we don't like in our worldwide charity efforts!
Democrats: You just stopped vital aid programs, people are going to die.
Republicans: Who cares?! Now let Elon give himself more government contracts while China's influence grows in the rest of the world. MAGA!!!
patkim
Yes, they have a right, as long as they follow the proper procedures. Neither Musk or any of the people who work for his organization (which by the way, was never approved), has gone through the proper training and background checks that are necessary for any employee of the federal government. In order to handle personal and sensitive information, such as SSN, bank accounts, etc., everyone needs the proper authorization. Even top military personnel like four-star generals need to be formally cleared.
I'veSeenFootage
I think you undercalculated that! It's actually ONE HUNDRED TRILLION of wasted money for trans musicals on the moon! If you're gonna lie, might as well do it correctly.
KnightsOfCydonia
How about you look into which party has had control of the senate and house of representatives since 2000, go back further if you wish..
It's a hit job pure and simple, aimed to intimidate and bully political enemies. But they will sell it to the faithful as a righteous cause for truth and justice.
Megan Thee Stallion
Because he’s not finding anything of significance.
Found millions in USAID grift, good start
Underworld
Dango bong
Because he’s not finding anything of significance.
That’s the outrage porn that is being doled out, but if you look into it, there isn’t much unreasonable spending.
Underworld
Megan Thee Stallion
Because he’s not finding anything of significance.
Nope. Didn’t.
Blacklabel
These partisan judges collaborating with blue state DAs and Dems in Congress are the ones creating the “constitutional crisis”.
Zaphod
Why the quotation marks? That those activists leftist judges who have been going after Trump and the Trump team are highly political is not in doubt.
Bob Fosse
$20 million to attend the Super Bowl?
I'veSeenFootage
The "party of law and order" once again advocating for the law to be completely ignored in favor of a president with despotic tendencies.
ulysses
Excel!
Dango bong
Democrats used to be the "party of the people." Now they are the "leave bureaucracy alone!" party.
Say goodbye to your party..
ulysses
Yes sir, Kavaunaugh is a problem!!!
Dango bong
How is stopping payments to fund transgender surgeries in Guatemala and paying social security to dead people a hit job?
Why is the support for the President and what he is doing almost 70% now?
KnightsOfCydonia
what? you mean not everyone is onboard with the MAGA train to totalitarian wonderland? how dare they!
The greatest deal maker that ever lived is very disappointed.
Watch out plebs!
Megan Thee Stallion
Who cares?! Now let Elon give himself more government contracts while China's influence grows in the rest of the world. MAGA!!!
more China influence in the world? Who cares brotha, bring some tariffs fpr a while, they,ll make a deal and lets do more business with them. Everyone,ll be happy. MAGA!
justasking
Musk, has not been vetted to have access to peoples' private information. Trump, has no education, his degree was bought for by his daddy and he is a crook.
America was great before he took over, and it will be flushed down the toilet by the time he is finished with it.
I'veSeenFootage
https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/polls/favorability/donald-trump/
Unfavorable 47.8%
Favorable 46.7%
Megan Thee Stallion
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2025/02/09/cbs-news-poll-trump/78372943007/
Majority approve of how President Donald Trump is handling job, CBS News poll finds
USA TODAY
It has been less than a month since President Donald Trump was inaugurated, but he has a positive approval rating among adults in the U.S., according to a new poll.
When asked if they approve or disapprove of the way Trump is handling his job, 53% of the people polled said they approve and 47% said they disapprove, according to the CBS News/YouGov poll published Sunday.According to the poll, 31% strongly approve; 22% somewhat approve; 9% somewhat disapprove; and 38% strongly disapprove.
Bob Fosse
That’s not 70% is it Megan.
Megan Thee Stallion
A new CBS News poll finds 53% of Americans approve of President Trump's job performance, with 70% saying he’s delivering on his promises, including cutting spending. POLL: https://cbsn.ws/42P0kZq
ulysses
Yes sir, the fact that eggs are free now is resounding well with Americans!!
And to add to it no more Medicare, drug prices going through the roof….
I mean, is this real life, or is this fantasy!!!!!
Megan Thee Stallion
That’s not 70% is it Megan.
Margaret, my sista, read. Good news for 47, any way yo cut it. MAGA!
A new CBS News poll finds 53% of Americans approve of President Trump's job performance, with 70% saying he’s delivering on his promises, including cutting spending. POLL: https://cbsn.ws/42P0kZq
Jimizo
So nowhere near the 70% figure that’s been repeated on here.
By the way, it’s probably best to look at the average of polls rather than cherry picking one you like. Not perfect, but better
Megan Thee Stallion
The neofascist are out in force blaming anyone and everyone from Dem to Judges. LOL.
Neofacist who? CHill out libhead brothas.
Megan Thee Stallion
70%
patkim
Recently watched a speech Trump made from the oval office on Jan. 31st. He said, "We were at our richest from 1870 to 1913. That’s when we were a tariff country, and then they went to an income-tax concept. And, you know, how did that work out? It’s fine, it’s OK, but it would have been very much better".
https://www.c-span.org/program/white-house-event/president-trump-signs-executive-orders/655190
So, if he believes that America was great then and he wants to make it great again, is he really suggesting to take us back to the situation during that time? Really? I'm sorry, but if we are going to turn back into a 1870's America, then I want no part of it.
kohakuebisu
You gotta pump those numbers up. Those are rookie numbers in this racket.
patkim
Also, Trump is basically saying that the America he grew up in, from the 1960's to the 2000's were not great times. I don't know about you, but I kind of enjoy those times. Had lots of fond memories.
Wasabi
Is the US great yet? Or do you need a little more of this?
patkim
Well, according to Trump, when America goes back to 1870's America when it was a tariff country, then we'll be great again.
Blacklabel
Democrats won’t be winning another national election for a decade.
full effort into blocking everything the people elected Trump to do using partisan judges will have consequences.
Blacklabel
Last 3 polls in the average? 53, 53, 54. Upward trend.
and yes, 70% approved that Trump is doing what he said he would do.
other 30% just mad that he’s actually doing what he said he would do.