Donald Trump and Elon Musk are escalating their attacks on U.S. judges, and now top House Republicans are doing the same. As Trump’s executive orders face roadblocks in the courts, and Musk’s cuts to federal agencies are challenged, the two have turned their fury on judges who stand in their way. With support from key GOP figures like Speaker Mike Johnson and Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan, the situation is growing more dangerous, with experts warning of the severe consequences.
On April 1, a subcommittee hearing in the House focused on “judicial overreach,” discussing ways to limit the power of judges who have blocked Trump’s actions or Musk’s aggressive policies, including Musk’s cuts to federal agencies. This rhetoric is fueling a broader effort by Trump and his allies to discredit the judicial system and eliminate obstacles to their agendas.
Veteran Republican consultants know that Musk’s immense wealth, including his $300 million contribution to Trump’s 2020 campaign, is a powerful force in shaping future elections. His massive donations are expected to continue in the 2026 cycle, further pressuring Republican lawmakers to align with Trump and Musk on this issue.
“Republicans on Capitol Hill expect Musk to make a lot of donations to them in 2026,” said veteran Republican consultant Charlie Black. “But it’s likely that such donations will be coordinated with the president’s preferences.”
Trump’s attacks have ramped up after a series of court rulings blocked key executive orders. In March, Judge James Boasberg of Washington D.C. halted the deportation of Venezuelan immigrants, a decision that enraged Trump. The former president falsely labeled Boasberg a “radical left lunatic,” and called for his impeachment and disbarment.
Musk, on his social media platform X, has also urged the impeachment of judges who make rulings he doesn’t like. On February 25, Musk posted, “The only way to restore rule of the people in America is to impeach judges.”
Legal experts are sounding the alarm, warning that these attacks threaten the very foundations of the U.S. legal system.
“Trump and Musk are playing with fire,” said retired Massachusetts judge Nancy Gertner, now a lecturer at Harvard Law School. “They’re undermining bedrock constitutional principles.”
Gertner added, “You can’t shut down a court just because you disagree. The judges have done nothing wrong or inconsistent with their oaths, and nothing outside their judicial roles.”
Even Chief Justice John Roberts has weighed in, defending the judiciary against Trump’s calls for impeachment. In a statement last month, Roberts reminded that “for more than two centuries, it has been established that impeachment is not an appropriate response to disagreement concerning a judicial decision.”
Judge Boasberg’s rulings have not been one-sided. In 2017, he sided with Trump to block the IRS from releasing Trump’s tax returns. Yet Trump continues to falsely accuse him of bias, just as he has done with other judges.
In March, three other D.C. judges ruled against Trump’s executive orders targeting law firms he deemed political enemies. Trump’s orders threatened to revoke security clearances and limit government contracts for firms like Perkins Coie, Jenner & Block, and WilmerHale. In one case, Judge Beryl Howell temporarily blocked Trump’s move to penalize Perkins Coie. The Justice Department responded by attempting to have Howell removed from the case, a rare and aggressive move.
Howell shot back, accusing the Justice Department of trying to “impugn the integrity of the federal judicial system.”
Meanwhile, other judges sided with law firms Jenner & Block and WilmerHale, which challenged Trump’s orders on First Amendment grounds, arguing that Trump’s actions were an attack on their constitutional rights.
Experts are warning that these attacks on judges are not just harmful to the rule of law—they could also put judges in physical danger. “While the threats to impeach federal judges are largely performative, they are also designed to foment disrespect for the judiciary and the rule of law,” said former federal judge John Jones, now president of Dickinson College.
Some worry that Trump’s rhetoric could encourage violence. “The real risk comes not from Congress, but the fringe elements in Trump’s camp, who might be stirred up to threaten or actually inflict harm on the targeted judges,” said Daniel Richman, a former federal prosecutor and professor at Columbia Law School.
Despite these warnings, many GOP members are doubling down on their support for Trump’s attacks on the judiciary. At least seven Republican lawmakers, including Andy Ogles of Tennessee and Brandon Gill of Texas, have echoed Trump’s calls to impeach judges or take other actions against those who block his orders. These lawmakers have also received campaign donations from Musk, with some getting the maximum $6,600 donation.
Although Republican leaders have acknowledged that impeachment is unlikely due to a lack of votes, their public support for Trump’s attacks on the judiciary is growing. Speaker Mike Johnson recently said, “Desperate times call for desperate measures, and Congress is going to act.” One proposal being discussed is a bill to ban nationwide injunctions by judges, which could pass in the House soon.
Senator Chuck Grassley, who chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee, is also exploring ways to limit judicial power, including a bill to end universal injunctions. However, this bill faces an uphill battle in the Senate.
Former Republican congressmen have been critical of their colleagues’ actions. Dave Trott, a former Michigan congressman, condemned the GOP’s blind loyalty to Trump, saying, “The investigation into judges by Chairman Jordan, and calls by Gill and Ogles for the impeachment of judges who have ruled against Trump, are more examples of blind loyalty to Trump by a bunch of sycophants.”
Trott warned, “Elon is using his billions to help Republicans get re-elected. This will ensure the GOP stays in line. The concentration of great wealth and power is a problem that will have serious consequences for our country.”
Other ex-Republicans voiced similar concerns, arguing that the attacks on judges are part of a larger effort to undermine checks on Trump’s power. “Trump has, believe it or not, a strategic plan to disable all opposition,” said former prosecutor Paul Rosenzweig. “The final piece is to eliminate the last independent check on his authority—judges.”
Experts are calling for a return to respect for the judiciary and the Constitution, warning that if this attack on judicial independence continues, it could have catastrophic consequences for the nation’s legal system and democracy.
