Donald Trump lashed out Wednesday after a Utah court ordered the state to redraw its congressional map — a ruling that could open the door for Democrats to snag a rare House seat in the deep-red state.
“Monday’s Court Order in Utah is absolutely Unconstitutional,” Trump fumed on Truth Social. “How did such a wonderful Republican State like Utah, which I won in every Election, end up with so many Radical Left Judges?”
The ruling by District Court Judge Dianna Gibson found that Utah lawmakers ignored a voter-backed redistricting initiative and must now draw fairer maps by September 24. The decision threatens the GOP’s 4-0 grip on the state’s congressional delegation by possibly giving blue-leaning Salt Lake City a unified district — a potential lifeline for Democrats.
Trump didn’t hold back, accusing the judiciary of being part of a left-wing scheme to tip the balance of power: “All Citizens of Utah should be outraged at their activist Judiciary, which wants to take away our Congressional advantage, and will do everything possible to do so,” he said.
“This incredible State sent four great Republicans to Congress, and we want to keep it that way. The Utah GOP has to STAY UNITED, and make sure their four terrific Republican Congressmen stay right where they are!”
The redistricting battle traces back to a 2018 ballot initiative that created an independent redistricting commission. But in 2020, the Republican-led Legislature gutted its power, and by 2021, lawmakers had steamrolled the commission’s proposal and pushed through their own maps — all but ensuring Republican dominance.
Judge Gibson called that move unconstitutional. “The nature of the violation lies in the Legislature’s refusal to respect the people’s exercise of their constitutional lawmaking power and to honor the people’s right to reform their government,” she wrote.
Democrats, unsurprisingly, celebrated the ruling. “In throwing out the current, gerrymandered congressional map, voters in Utah will now have an opportunity to elect leaders that best represent their values,” said Rep. Suzan DelBene, head of the Democrats’ House campaign arm.
Utah Democrats hailed the decision as a “mandate for change” and said they’re “ready to hit the ground running next year.”
But Republicans in the state are furious. Sen. Mike Lee slammed the court’s decision as a blatant partisan attack: “Make no mistake, this decision will make the process of drawing legislative districts in Utah less accountable to voters, not more,” he posted on X. “It’ll also result in maps that are far more generous to Democrats, and that’s the whole point.”
With Republicans clinging to a razor-thin 219-212 majority in the House, even a single flipped seat in Utah could prove decisive in 2026. And with redistricting battles erupting in other key states like Texas, Florida, and Ohio, the fight over district lines has become one of the fiercest fronts in the war for control of Congress.
In Trump’s eyes, the Utah ruling isn’t just about maps — it’s about power. And he’s not hiding his fury.
