When things don’t go President Donald Trump’s way, he often furiously dashes off an attack via Twitter, attempting to delegitimize the target he believes has done him wrong. Friday morning, his ire was directed at a federal appeals court that decided the previous evening to continue staying his executive order on immigration: “A disgraceful decision!”
Since he announced his bid for the presidency, Trump has not shied away from hurling personal insults at members of the federal judiciary in a manner not seen in recent history. The President has not only gone after judges he believes will or already have treated him unfairly, but he has also hit sitting Supreme Court justices.
Below is a rundown of Trump’s attacks on the judiciary.
Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts
While going after Sen, Ted Cruz (R-TX), then his opponent in the Republican presidential primary, Trump criticized the chief justice of the Supreme Court, calling him a “a disaster in terms of everything we stand for.” Trump specifically slammed John Roberts for the high court’s ruling in favor of the Affordable Care Act.
Judge Gonzalo Curiel
Trump repeatedly went after Judge Gonzalo Curiel, a U.S. district judge handling cases against Trump University in California, specifically attacking the judge’s heritage. Curiel is of Mexican descent, but was born in Indiana.
“Spanish” and “Hispanic”
Trump first criticized Curiel at a February 2016 rally in Arkansas, where he noted that the judge “happens to be Spanish” and is “Hispanic.”
A “Hater” And A “Mexican”
During a May 2016 campaign rally in San Diego, Trump called Curiel a “hater” and then proceeded to speculate about the judge’s heritage.
“The judge, who happens to be, we believe, Mexican, which is great, I think that’s fine,” Trump said.
“Unfair” And “Totally Biased”
Later in May, Trump published tweets charging that Curiel was “biased” because he “hates Trump.” He noted that Curiel was an “Obama pick” and said he was “very unfair.”
“Mexican Heritage”
After his first few attacks on the judge, Trump tried to explain why he went after Curiel, suggesting that the judge was unfair to him because of his plans to build a wall along the U.S. border with Mexico.
“I’ve had terrible rulings, I’ve been treated very unfairly. Now, this judge is of Mexican heritage,” Trump said on CNN. “I’m building a wall. I’m building a wall.”
Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg
After Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg criticized Trump, he lashed out at her “very dumb political statements” and said that she should resign because “her mind is shot.”
Judge James Robart
U.S. District Judge James Robart, a Bush appointee, temporarily blocked Trump’s executive order suspending the refugee program and barring visitors from seven predominantly Muslim countries last week. So Trump disparaged Robart as a “so-called” judge and told the country to “blame” him and the court system if “something happens” to the country.
9th Circuit Court of Appeals
Trump went on a tear against the appeals court panel that was tasked with reviewing his executive order.
“So Political”
Before the panel issued its decision, Trump complained that “courts seem to be so political.”
“SEE YOU IN COURT”
When the panel declined Thursday night to lift a stay on Trump’s order, the President responded swiftly with a tweet promising to “SEE YOU IN COURT.”
“Disgraceful”
Trump followed up on the decision Friday morning, calling the 9th Circuit’s ruling “disgraceful.”
