Senate Republicans are increasingly worried that President Trump’s refusal to respect court rulings could push the country into a constitutional crisis. They are urging him to comply with judicial decisions that have blocked key parts of his executive agenda, including freezing federal grants and loans, dismantling the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), and banning birthright citizenship.
Although many GOP lawmakers have been reluctant to directly criticize Trump due to concerns over political repercussions, their growing anxiety over the potential consequences of defying court orders is clear.
“The White House should comply with court rulings, the Congress should comply,” Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) said Tuesday.
She continued, “We have a judicial system. If you don’t like the ruling, you can appeal it, but we are a nation of laws. It’s not for you or me to be the final judge. That’s why we have courts.”
Trump responded later, saying he would follow court rulings but would appeal those he disagreed with.
“I always abide by the courts and then I’ll have to appeal it,” Trump said. He expressed frustration, claiming that judges were slowing down his efforts to cut government waste. “But what he’s done is slowed down momentum… it gives crooked people more time to cover up the books,” Trump said.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) acknowledged the tension between the White House and the judiciary but emphasized that the president must respect the courts.
“The courts have a way of mediating disputes between branches of government,” Thune said. “Yes, the courts need to be listened to.”
In one example of judicial pushback, a federal judge in New York blocked Trump’s attempt to allow Elon Musk and his team to access the Treasury Department’s sensitive federal payment system. The system manages federal spending, including Social Security and Medicare benefits. This ruling, issued on Monday, triggered criticism from Trump’s allies, including Vice President JD Vance, who argued that judges shouldn’t have the authority to challenge the executive branch. “If a judge tried to tell a general how to conduct a military operation, that would be illegal,” Vance wrote on X.
Senator James Lankford (R-Okla.) noted the importance of respecting the checks and balances outlined in the Constitution. “We have three branches of government,” Lankford said, calling for the White House to comply with court orders while challenging them through higher courts if necessary.
Several other court rulings have also blocked Trump’s executive orders. These include his attempts to freeze federal grants and loans, ban birthright citizenship, and restrict transgender women’s access to women’s prisons. A judge in Rhode Island recently ruled that Trump failed to follow an order to unfreeze billions of dollars in grants, calling the freeze “likely unconstitutional” and damaging to large portions of the country.
While some Republicans have backed Trump’s stance, others, like Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), have urged the courts to step back and allow Trump’s plans to proceed. Johnson said Tuesday morning that the courts should “take a step back and let these processes play out.”
Democrats, on the other hand, have applauded the court rulings against Trump. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) praised the courts for upholding the law, stating, “The law is not optional, not even for the president of the United States.” Schumer pointed to court victories that blocked Trump’s attempts to freeze federal funding and cut medical research money.
Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) stressed that the country must follow court decisions, even though he acknowledged that Trump believes his actions are within his authority. “If the courts say no, we have to follow their decisions,” Rounds said.
Senator Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.) suggested that many of the court rulings blocking Trump’s actions would likely be overturned on appeal. “These are temporary restraining orders, and they’re going to get overturned,” Schmitt said. He added that the executive branch has the authority to make the decisions at stake, and if the case reaches the Supreme Court, the outcome will likely favor the president.
As tensions continue to rise over Trump’s defiance of the judiciary, many Republicans remain split on whether to back the president or demand compliance with the courts. Regardless, the party’s growing unease signals a broader concern about the potential for a constitutional crisis if these issues remain unresolved.
