Donald Trump's ongoing quest for the presidency has reached a new low, as he attempts to defy the Supreme Court's authority and manipulate the legal system to his advantage. In a series of actions that are both legally questionable and politically strategic, Trump is once again attempting to exert control over the Federal Reserve and the Supreme Court, despite the Court's previous rulings against him.
Firstly, Trump is trying to fire Lisa Cook, a Federal Reserve Board governor, by renewing his efforts to remove her from her position. The Supreme Court previously ruled that Trump could only fire Cook for 'cause' and that he had failed to follow the required legal process. However, Trump is now making it appear as if he is following the legal process, even though the new attempt is based on the same allegations, with no new information. This is a clear attempt to bypass the Court's previous decision and assert his authority.
Secondly, Trump has defied the Court's authority to issue binding rulings against him by issuing two executive orders that purport to deny birthright citizenship to certain categories of individuals. In the case of Trump v. Barbara, the Supreme Court held that babies born in the United States are automatic citizens under the Fourteenth Amendment. However, Trump's executive orders attempt to expand the narrow exceptions to birthright citizenship, which the Court carved out in 1898. These exceptions include children of foreign embassy employees, employees of foreign governments, and those involved in 'birth tourism'.
The practical impact of Trump's maneuver is questionable, as the federal government has no authority to issue birth certificates, which are handled by the states. The State Department has already issued regulations restricting tourist visas for people suspected of entering the U.S. for purposes of giving birth, and the federal government has revoked over a hundred visas allegedly tied to 'birth tourism'.
Trump's actions are not only legally questionable but also politically strategic. With his support in the polls waning due to his disastrous war in Iran and the rising cost of living, Trump is desperate for a distraction. Flouting a Supreme Court ruling provides him with a platform to divert attention from his failures and assert his authority. This is a dangerous precedent, as it undermines the rule of law and suggests that Trump believes he can do whatever he wants and get away with it.
The Supreme Court's grant of immunity for presidential criminal acts has already allowed Trump to defy lower federal court orders dozens of times. By crossing the red line of defying the Supreme Court, Trump may finally convince holdout optimists that America is no longer a functioning constitutional democracy. This is a deeply concerning development, as it erodes the trust in the legal system and undermines the principles of democracy and the rule of law.
