President Trump just doubled down on his criticism of judges

(Image credit: JIM WATSON/AFP/Getty Images)

published 22 March 2017

Shortly after President Trump's Supreme Court nominee called the president's attacks on judges "demoralizing," Trump was back at it. During a speech Tuesday night at a National Republican Congressional Committee fundraiser, Trump admitted he'd been told he "should not criticize" judges — after he'd already eschewed that advice. "The courts are not helping us, I have to be honest with you. It's ridiculous," Trump said. "Somebody said I should not criticize judges. Okay, I'll criticize judges."

Trump most recently lashed out at the courts for blocking his first immigration executive order, which temporarily banned people from seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the U.S. He slammed the "so-called judge" on Twitter who made the "ridiculous" decision, and later suggested the courts "seem to be so political."

Trump's Supreme Court pick, Neil Gorsuch, made clear at his confirmation hearing Tuesday that he takes issue with "anyone" — including the president of the United States — criticizing "the honesty, the integrity, the motives of a federal judge."