President Trump attacked several Supreme Court justices on Truth Social after the Court blocked his plan to change mail-in voting ahead of the midterms, calling some of his appointees "shells" of their former selves. None of his first-term appointees dissented from the majority opinion; Justices Alito and Thomas said they would have allowed the changes. Attorney General Todd Blanche said the administration will comply with the order but may press for voting changes before 2028. Trump also noted the Court has issued rulings both for and against him, including a 2024 presidential-immunity decision.
Trump Attacks Supreme Court, Says His Appointees ‘Are Not The People I Interviewed’ After Mail-Voting Ruling
From left: Supreme Court Justices Amy Coney Barrett, Brett Kavanaugh and Neil Gorsuch, all of whom were appointed by President Donald Trump. - Getty Images/Reuters
President Donald Trump renewed a sharp public attack on several Supreme Court justices on Truth Social a day after the court blocked his administration’s effort to impose wide-ranging changes to mail-in voting ahead of the midterm elections.
In a lengthy post, Trump wrote:
“These are not the people I interviewed to serve on the United States Supreme Court, they are merely a shell of their original selves.”
None of the justices Trump appointed during his first term — Brett Kavanaugh, Neil Gorsuch or Amy Coney Barrett — registered a dissent from the Court’s majority opinion that prevented the new mail-voting rules from taking effect. Two other justices, Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas, said they would have allowed the rules to go into place.
Broad Criticism and Economic Claims
Trump expanded his criticism beyond the mail-voting decision, citing other recent rulings he says have blocked elements of his agenda, including attempts to limit birthright citizenship and to impose broad tariffs. He accused the Court of inflicting massive economic harm, saying it was “costing the United States Trillions of Dollars with shockingly bad rulings that are of such magnitude that it won't be easily possible for our Country to recover or heal.”
“It is a Court that will go down as having rendered some of the most destructive, hurtful, and damaging decisions in our Country's history,” he added, saying he felt an obligation to criticize the justices despite expecting personal consequences.
Administration Response
The Supreme Court did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Trump’s post. Later the same day, Attorney General Todd Blanche said the administration would comply with the latest Court order but left open the possibility of pursuing changes to mail voting in the years leading up to the 2028 presidential election.
Blanche defended the president’s forceful language as the expression of a frustrated leader and said Trump “has every right, and indeed he should communicate his concerns with the Supreme Court whenever he has them.”
Mixed Record From the Court
Despite his criticism, Trump acknowledged that the Supreme Court has issued major rulings favorable to him, including a 2024 decision that recognized broad presidential immunity for official acts. The Court also recently allowed construction to continue on a White House ballroom project after preservationists sought to halt the work.
Still, Trump expressed growing disappointment with conservative justices he appointed who have not consistently sided with his positions in his second term. He reserved particular praise for Justices Alito and Thomas, calling them “legends.”
Context: The dispute highlights mounting tensions between the president and the judiciary and signals the administration may pursue further legal or political strategies to reshape voting rules before the next presidential contest.
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