Special Poll
President Trump stated on Tuesday that he would comply with court rulings that block aspects of his agenda, addressing growing concerns sparked by comments from some of his allies about potentially defying the legal system.
“I always abide by the courts, and then I’ll have to appeal it,” Trump said when asked if he would respect court orders that could hinder his policies. He acknowledged the legal process but expressed frustration over its impact, saying, “But then what he’s done is he’s slowed down momentum. And it gives crooked people more time to cover up the books.”
Reiterating his stance, Trump emphasized that he has always followed court decisions while pursuing legal challenges. “The answer is I always abide by the courts, always abide by them. And we’ll appeal,” he said. “But appeals take a long time.”
However, Trump dismissed the idea that a court could block federal agencies from auditing their financial records for potential fraud or irregularities. “I can’t imagine that could be held up by the court,” he said. “Any court that would say that the president or his representatives—like secretary of the Treasury, secretary of State, whatever—doesn’t have the right to go over their books and make sure everything’s honest, I mean how can you have a country?”
His remarks come amid backlash from Democrats and legal experts following recent statements from Vice President J.D. Vance and top Trump adviser Elon Musk. Both suggested that the judiciary lacks the authority to limit a president’s executive power.
Vance, in a post on X, the platform owned by Musk, argued that judicial oversight over executive actions was illegitimate. “If a judge tried to tell a general how to conduct a military operation, that would be illegal. If a judge tried to command the attorney general in how to use her discretion as a prosecutor, that’s also illegal,” Vance wrote. “Judges aren’t allowed to control the executive’s legitimate power.”
The exchange highlights ongoing tensions between the Trump administration and the judiciary, as legal battles over executive authority continue to shape the political landscape.