Trump turns on Federalist Society after tariff defeat saying Leonard Leo probably hates America
Donald Trump just unleashed a scathing attack on the conservative legal group that helped shape his judicial legacy. The target of his fury? A man he now calls a “sleazebag” who “probably hates America.”
The Tariff Battle That Started It All
The drama began with a court ruling that threatened to derail Trump’s economic agenda. On Wednesday, the U.S. Court of International Trade delivered a blow to the president’s tariff plans.
The court ruled that Trump had overstepped his authority under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. It was a decision that would send shockwaves through the administration.
But Thursday brought a temporary reprieve. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit allowed Trump’s tariffs to remain in effect while the legal battle continues.
A Fiery Social Media Response
Trump’s reaction came in the form of a lengthy Truth Social post that pulled no punches. The president questioned the motives of the judges who ruled against him.
“Where do these initial three Judges come from? How is it possible for them to have potentially done such damage to the United States of America?”
The president suggested the ruling was driven by personal animosity rather than legal principle.
“Is it purely a hatred of ‘TRUMP?’ What other reason could it be?”
The Unexpected Target
But Trump’s anger didn’t stop with the judges. He turned his sights on an organization that had been instrumental in his judicial appointments during his first term.
The Federalist Society, long considered a cornerstone of conservative legal thought, suddenly found itself in Trump’s crosshairs. The group had provided recommendations for judicial nominees throughout Trump’s presidency.
Trump revealed that using the organization had been suggested to him when he was “new to Washington.” He had followed that advice “openly and freely.”
The Personal Attack
Then came the bombshell that no one saw coming. Trump didn’t just criticize the organization – he launched a personal attack on one of its most prominent figures.
Leonard Leo, chairman of the Federalist Society’s board of directors, became the target of Trump’s most vicious rhetoric. The president described Leo in terms that shocked conservative legal circles.
“I realized that they were under the thumb of a real ‘sleazebag’ named Leonard Leo, a bad person who, in his own way, probably hates America.”
The Deeper Disappointment
Trump’s criticism went beyond personal attacks. He expressed profound disappointment with the judicial recommendations he had received.
“I am so disappointed in the Federalist Society because of the bad advice they gave me on numerous Judicial Nominations.”
The president made it clear this wasn’t something he would forget easily.
“This is something that cannot be forgotten!”
However, Trump did acknowledge that he remained “very proud of many of our picks” while being “very disappointed in others.”
The Supreme Court Appeal
Trump concluded his post by calling on the Supreme Court to intervene. He described the lower court’s ruling as “so wrong, and so political.”
“Hopefully, the Supreme Court will reverse this horrible, Country threatening decision, QUICKLY and DECISIVELY.”
The president argued that his tariffs would lead to a “rich, prosperous, and successful United States of America.” He emphasized that the president must be allowed to protect America from economic harm.
The public feud between Trump and the Federalist Society represents a significant fracture in conservative legal circles, with implications that could reshape the relationship between the president and the judicial nomination process going forward.