Topline
President Donald Trump lashed out at the Federalist Society and its former chair on Thursday, as he accused the conservative legal organization of giving him “bad advice” on judicial picks and blamed them for the U.S. Court of International Trade’s now paused order to block his sweeping “Liberation Day” tariffs.
President Donald Trump blamed the Federalist Society’s former chair for recommending one of the … More
Key Facts
In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump accused the U.S. Court of International Trade’s judges of “potentially” damaging the country by attempting to block his “desperately needed Tariffs.”
One of the judges on the federal trade court’s three-judge panel, which blocked the sweeping tariffs, Timothy Reif, was appointed by Trump during his first term.
The president’s post said when he was new in Washington, “it was suggested that I use The Federalist Society as a recommending source on Judges,” as he appeared to blame the group for picking Reif.
Trump then attacked the group’s former chair Leonard Leo, saying he was a “real ‘sleazebag’… a bad person who, in his own way, probably hates America, and obviously has his own separate ambitions.”
The president claimed Leo “openly brags how he controls Judges, and even Justices of the United States Supreme Court,” and added, “I hope that is not so, and don’t believe it is.”
What Else Did Trump Say About The Federalist Society?
Trump acknowledged Leo had left the conservative legal organization to do his “own thing,” but said: “I am so disappointed in The Federalist Society because of the bad advice they gave me on numerous Judicial Nominations. This is something that cannot be forgotten!” The president then added: “I am very proud of many of our picks, but very disappointed in others.”
What Did Trump Say About The Legal Battle Over His Tariffs?
On Thursday, a federal appellate court paused the trade court’s order, which declared the “Liberation Day” tariffs as unlawful. This means the levies can remain in place at least until June 9, which is the appeals court’s deadline for the Trump administration and plaintiffs in the case to submit court filings on whether the pause should be extended. In his post, Trump said: “The ruling by the U.S. Court of International Trade is so wrong, and so political! Hopefully, the Supreme Court will reverse this horrible, Country threatening decision, QUICKLY and DECISIVELY.” The president also derided the idea that he should go through Congress to impose the tariffs, saying this would mean “hundreds of politicians would sit around D.C. for weeks, and even months, trying to come to a conclusion as to what to charge other Countries that are treating us unfairly.” Trump argued this would “completely destroy Presidential Power.”
Further Reading
Trump’s Tariffs Will Stay In Effect—For Now—Appeals Court Rules (Forbes)
Could Trump’s Tariffs Be Reinstated? What To Know After Court Strikes Them Down (Forbes)
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/siladityaray/2025/05/30/sleazebag-trump-lashes-out-at-former-federalist-society-chair-over-trade-court-ruling/