Trump boasts he can 'comprehend very well, better than I think almost anybody'

President Trump defended his immigration executive order Wednesday while speaking at the National Sheriffs' Association's winter meeting. After reading the entirety of the order, which bans people from seven predominantly Muslim nations from entering the U.S., Trump insisted the order "couldn't have been written any more precisely." Whether "you're a good student in high school or a bad student," Trump said, surely you can understand the ban.
Speaking the morning after federal appeals court judges heard arguments from the Justice Department in favor of the constitutionality of Trump's ban, which a judge suspended last week, Trump also divulged his thoughts on the justice system. Trump insisted he didn't "ever want to call a court biased" so he "won't," though he did say "courts seem to be so political." "And it would be so great for our justice system if they would be able to read a statement and do what's right," Trump said. "And that has to do with the security of our country, which is so important."
He argued that it was "as plain as you can have it" that this ban is in the country's best interest. "And I was a good student. I understand things," Trump said. "I comprehend very well, better than I think almost anybody." Becca Stanek
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Trump judge pick told DOJ to defy courts, lawyer says
Speed Read Emil Bove, a top Justice Department official nominated by Trump for a lifetime seat, stands accused of encouraging government lawyers to mislead the courts and defy judicial orders
-
Mamdani upsets Cuomo in NYC mayoral primary
Speed Read Democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani beat out Andrew Cuomo in New York City's Democratic mayoral primary
-
Supreme Court clears third-country deportations
Speed Read The court allowed Trump to temporarily resume deporting migrants to countries they aren't from
-
Judges order release of 2 high-profile migrants
Speed Read Kilmar Ábrego García is back in the US and Mahmoud Khalil is allowed to go home — for now
-
US assessing bomb damage to Iran nuclear sites
Speed Read Trump claims this weekend's US bombing obliterated Tehran's nuclear program, while JD Vance insists the US is 'not at war with Iran'
-
Trump's LA deployment in limbo after court rulings
Speed Read Judge Breyer ruled that Trump's National Guard deployment to Los Angeles was an 'illegal' overreach. But a federal appellate court halted the ruling.
-
Marines, National Guard in LA can detain Americans
speed read The troops have been authorized to detain anyone who interferes with immigration raids
-
Trump vows 'very big force' against parade protesters
Speed Read The parade, which will shut down much of the capital, will celebrate the US Army's 250th anniversary and Trump's 79th birthday