Trump Insists He'd Never Defy Supreme Court Amid Ongoing Legal Tangles

Donald Trump is making it perfectly clear: when it comes to the Supreme Court, he says he’s a loyal fan. In a recent interview, Trump stated he would "never defy" the highest court in the land, doubling down on his commitment to comply with the judiciary—even as his team wrestles with a series of legal challenges and accusations of sidestepping court orders.

Speaking with Time magazine as he approaches the 100-day mark in his current term, Trump touched on a range of issues, from the economy to his plans for new tariffs. But the real fireworks centered on his approach to the federal courts.

When pressed about whether he would always comply with Supreme Court rulings, Trump replied, "Sure, I believe in the court system. I never defy the Supreme Court. I wouldn't do that. I'm a big believer in the Supreme Court, and have a lot of respect for the justices." He also made a point to say he’s committed to respecting all courts, not just the top bench.

Behind this calm affirmation, though, is a legal storm. As Trump’s lawyers fight to uphold his executive orders, federal courts across the country are busy fielding emergency restraining orders and lawsuits aimed at stopping or altering his agenda. The most contentious battles revolve around Trump’s use of the Alien Enemies Act, a centuries-old law, to deport migrants—most notably, Kilmar Abrego Garcia, an alleged MS-13 member who was deported to El Salvador last month in what officials later called an "administrative error."

Despite a unanimous Supreme Court ruling ordering the administration to facilitate Abrego Garcia’s return to the U.S., government officials have stalled, with one federal judge accusing them of a "willful and bad faith refusal to comply" with court requirements, such as providing daily updates and genuine efforts to bring Garcia back to U.S. soil.

When confronted about this apparent disconnect, Trump said the matter was in the hands of his lawyers and Attorney General Pam Bondi. "They feel that the order said something very much different from what you're saying," Trump noted. He added, "I give them no instructions… frankly, bringing him back and retrying him wouldn't bother me, but I leave that up to my lawyer."

Interestingly, Trump said he hasn’t personally asked El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele to return Garcia, explaining that nobody—not even his own lawyers—had requested he do so. During a recent meeting in Washington, Bondi publicly stated that it’s "up to El Salvador" whether Garcia returns, sparking further legal scrutiny and prompting a federal judge to order an expedited review of the administration’s efforts.

Pressed on why he hasn’t taken more direct action, Trump responded that unless his attorneys ask him to get involved, he’s content to let the legal team handle it. "They say we’re in total compliance with the Supreme Court," he concluded.