In a rare public rebuke, Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. on Tuesday condemned President Donald J. Trump’s call to impeach a federal judge who recently ruled against the administration’s efforts to expand deportations under the Alien Enemies Act of 1798.
The controversy erupted after U.S. District Judge James Boasberg issued a temporary restraining order blocking the removal of hundreds of Venezuelan migrants whom the administration claimed were members of criminal organizations. The ruling, seen as a direct challenge to Trump’s immigration policies, prompted the president to launch a blistering attack on the judge via social media.
“Another radical left lunatic blocking what the American people want—law and order!” Mr. Trump wrote in a post on his social media platform. “This so-called judge needs to be removed IMMEDIATELY. Impeachment is the only answer!”
The comments drew immediate backlash from legal scholars and lawmakers, but it was Chief Justice Roberts’ intervention that underscored the gravity of the situation. In a statement released by the Supreme Court, Roberts emphasized the importance of judicial independence, warning that impeachment should not be used as a tool for political retaliation.
Roberts Defends Judicial Independence
“For more than two centuries, it has been established that impeachment is not an appropriate response to disagreement concerning a judicial decision,” Roberts wrote. “Our system relies on an independent judiciary, free from political influence, to interpret the law. If the executive branch disagrees with a ruling, the proper course of action is through appellate review, not threats of removal.”
The chief justice’s comments highlight the increasing tension between the White House and the judiciary, a conflict that has defined much of Mr. Trump’s second term. Since returning to office, the president has aggressively pushed policies aimed at restricting immigration and expediting deportations, often clashing with courts that have intervened to halt or modify those efforts.
Judge Boasberg, an Obama appointee, argued in his ruling that the administration’s deportation order lacked sufficient legal justification and risked violating the rights of those affected. The ruling was immediately appealed by the Justice Department, but Mr. Trump’s response indicated little patience for the legal process.
“This is judicial tyranny, plain and simple,” Mr. Trump said in a follow-up statement. “The American people are sick of activist judges undermining our laws. If Congress won’t act, I will.”
Political Fallout and Legal Concerns
While congressional Republicans have largely avoided commenting on the dispute, some legal experts expressed alarm over the president’s rhetoric.
“Impeachment of a judge requires clear evidence of misconduct, not simply a disagreement over a ruling,” said Laurence Tribe, a constitutional law professor at Harvard University. “If a president can target judges for removal whenever they issue decisions he dislikes, that is a direct attack on the rule of law.”
Democrats in Congress swiftly condemned Mr. Trump’s remarks, with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer calling them “an outright assault on our democracy.” House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries accused the president of “engaging in authoritarian behavior” and warned that such attacks on the judiciary could undermine faith in the legal system.
Yet, despite the rebuke from Chief Justice Roberts, the president’s allies signaled little interest in backing away from the confrontation. Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) echoed Mr. Trump’s calls for Judge Boasberg’s impeachment, claiming that “activist judges who side with criminals over American citizens need to be held accountable.”
A Growing Rift Between the Branches of Government
Legal analysts say the conflict raises broader concerns about the erosion of institutional norms, particularly as the 2026 midterm elections approach. With immigration policy a central issue in the campaign, the judiciary is likely to remain a target of partisan attacks.
For now, Judge Boasberg’s ruling remains in effect, and the case will proceed through the appeals process. But Chief Justice Roberts’ intervention signals a judiciary increasingly wary of political pressure, even as the White House escalates its attacks.
“The courts are not meant to be instruments of political power,” Roberts wrote in his statement. “They are bound by the Constitution and the law, and they will continue to uphold that duty, regardless of political pressures.”
As tensions between the executive branch and the judiciary continue to mount, it remains to be seen whether Mr. Trump’s impeachment threats will gain traction in Congress—or whether, as Roberts suggests, they will be recognized as a dangerous encroachment on the independence of the federal courts.
