President Trump pushed back against speculation regarding his brief exchange with Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts following his congressional address on Tuesday night. Trump clarified that he was simply thanking Roberts for swearing him into office in January, dismissing media speculation as an attempt to stir controversy.
As Trump exited the House chamber after delivering a nearly 100-minute speech, he was heard on camera telling Roberts, “Thank you again. I won’t forget it,” while patting him on the shoulder. The moment, caught on video with clear audio, quickly led to speculation from critics who suggested it was connected to Supreme Court rulings that have worked in Trump’s favor since he lost his 2020 re-election bid.
One such ruling came last year when the Supreme Court determined that former presidents have a presumption of criminal immunity for official acts performed while in office. The decision, written by Roberts, was a major legal victory for Trump, shielding him from certain criminal charges, including those tied to the January 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol. The ruling removed a significant legal hurdle for Trump’s path back to the White House.
Since his return to office in January, the Trump administration has already faced numerous legal challenges, particularly over executive actions such as the mass firing of federal employees and significant reductions in foreign aid spending.
In a post on Truth Social Wednesday night, Trump lashed out at the media for questioning his remarks to Roberts, calling out “sleazebag journalists” for trying to fabricate a divide between him and the Supreme Court.
“They never called my office to ask, of course, but if they had, I would have told these sleazebag ‘journalists’ that I thanked him for SWEARING ME IN ON INAUGURATION DAY, AND DOING A REALLY GOOD JOB IN SO DOING! The Fake News never quits!” Trump wrote.
The exchange highlights ongoing tensions between Trump and the press, as well as the intense scrutiny surrounding his interactions with key figures in government. While his critics continue to question the relationship between Trump and the Supreme Court, his supporters argue that the media is grasping at straws to create controversy where none exists.