John Roberts: ‘Impeachment not appropriate’: US supreme court chief rebukes Trump’s call to oust judge who blocked deportations
US supreme court chief justice John Roberts on Tuesday strongly rebuked US President Donald Trump over his calls to impeach a federal judge who blocked his administration’s mass deportations.
“For more than two centuries, it has been established that impeachment is not an appropriate response to disagreement concerning a judicial decision,” Roberts said, according to US media reports. His remarks came after Trump launched a scathing attack on US District Judge James Boasberg, branding him a “Radical Left Lunatic” for halting deportations under the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 and called for his impeachment.
Trump clashes with Judiciary over deportation ruling
Trump’s frustration stemmed from Boasberg’s emergency ruling, which stopped his administration from fast-tracking the removal of alleged Venezuelan gang members and other undocumented migrants. The judge’s order came after it was revealed that deportation flights had already departed. In response, he directed officials to turn them around.
The ruling sparked immediate outrage from Trump, who took to Truth Social. “This Radical Left Lunatic of a Judge, a troublemaker and agitator who was sadly appointed by Barack Hussein Obama, was not elected President – He didn’t WIN the popular VOTE (by a lot!), he didn’t WIN ALL SEVEN SWING STATES, he didn’t WIN 2,750 to 525 Counties, HE DIDN’T WIN ANYTHING!” Trump wrote. “This judge, like many of the Crooked Judges I am forced to appear before, should be IMPEACHED!!!”
Judge Boasberg, appointed by former President Barack Obama in 2011, also serves as the presiding judge of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISC).
MAGA calls for impeachment
Boasberg’s decision has enraged Trump supporters, with billionaire Elon Musk calling for the impeachment of “activist judges” blocking executive actions. “We must impeach judges who are grossly undermining the will of the people and destroying America. It is the only way,” Musk posted.
Trump’s allies argue that invoking the Alien Enemies Act was necessary to bypass legal roadblocks to mass deportations. However, Boasberg ruled against the administration’s use of the centuries-old law, citing concerns that those being deported could face persecution in their home countries.
