Former President Donald Trump has once again taken aim at the judiciary, this time calling for the impeachment of U.S. District Judge James Boasberg. Boasberg had recently blocked Trump’s efforts to deport hundreds of Salvadoran immigrants using the 1798 Alien Enemies Act.
In response, Trump launched a scathing attack on the judge, a move that prompted a rare public rebuke from Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts.
Trump Defies Court Order, Calls Judge ‘Radical Left Lunatic’
On his social media platform, TruthSocial, Trump dismissed Boasberg as a “Radical Left Lunatic” and claimed that judges should not have the authority to constrain a president’s actions. Despite Boasberg’s ruling, the administration proceeded with deportations, with 261 individuals reportedly arriving in El Salvador, where they were immediately imprisoned.
Trump’s frustration boiled over in his post, where he accused Boasberg of being a political activist rather than a fair judge. He argued that federal judges who interfere with presidential decisions should be impeached, stating, “This judge, like many of the Crooked Judges I am forced to appear before, should be IMPEACHED!!!”
Chief Justice Roberts Pushes Back Against Trump’s Remarks
Within hours of Trump’s post, Chief Justice John Roberts issued a rare statement defending the judiciary’s independence. Roberts emphasized that impeachment is not a tool to punish judges for decisions a president disagrees with.
“For more than two centuries, it has been established that impeachment is not an appropriate response to disagreement concerning a judicial decision,” Roberts said. He also reiterated that judicial rulings should be contested through the appellate process, not political pressure or intimidation.
Roberts has previously warned about threats against judges, stressing the need to protect judicial integrity. His firm response underscores growing concerns about political attacks on the judicial system.
Judge Boasberg’s Background and Impeachment Process
Judge James Boasberg was appointed to the federal bench by former President Barack Obama in 2011. In 2023, he became the chief judge of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. Before that, he served as an associate judge in the D.C. Superior Court, a role he was appointed to by President George W. Bush.
For Trump’s call to impeach Boasberg to succeed, it would require a majority vote in the House of Representatives, followed by a two-thirds majority in the Senate for conviction.
Historically, this is a rare occurrence—only 15 federal judges have been impeached in the last 250 years, and just eight have been removed from office. The most recent case was in 2010 when Judge G. Thomas Porteous was removed for accepting bribes and committing perjury.
House Republicans Join Trump’s Impeachment Push
Following Trump’s remarks, Rep. Brandon Gill, a Republican from Texas, announced his intention to introduce impeachment articles against Boasberg. Gill’s move aligns with broader efforts by House Republicans to challenge judges who have ruled against Trump. Since his presidency began in 2017, at least four federal judges have faced impeachment threats from Trump allies in Congress.
The growing conflict between Trump and the judiciary signals escalating tensions as he continues to challenge the limits of presidential authority. With the 2024 elections behind him and legal battles mounting, Trump’s latest attack on the judiciary raises serious questions about the future of judicial independence in the U.S.
