Trump Calls for Supreme Court Critics to be Jailed
The former president’s words only underscore the danger the Supreme Court’s decision on presidential immunity poses for Americans and our democracy
On Monday, Donald Trump doubled down on his belief that critics of the Supreme Court “should be put in jail,” including women who criticize Roe v. Wade. While over the last few months, Trump has called himself a “protector” of women, his own words say otherwise.
“In 2016, Donald Trump said women should be punished if they have an abortion. Now, he says women should be jailed for speaking out when their rights have been taken away. Attempting to stoke fear among those who are simply exercising their First Amendment rights is deeply anti-American,” said Demand Justice Managing Director Maggie Jo Buchanan.
These threats are even more alarming when viewed in light of the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent decision that granted presidents broad immunity for criminal acts. Today, the Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing on this dangerous ruling, which could give a future president the ability to do exactly what Donald Trump has suggested.
On Critics of the Supreme Court:
“They were very brave, the Supreme Court, very brave, and they take a lot of hits because of it, it should be illegal what happens,” Trump said. “You have these guys like playing the ref, like the great Bobby Knight, these people should be put in jail the way they talk about our judges and our justices trying to get them to sway their vote, sway their decision.” [Washington Post, 9/23/2024]
“I really think it’s illegal what they do, with judges and justices. They’re playing the ref…Remember the term. Playing the ref with our judges and justices should be punishable by very serious fines and beyond that.” [New York Mag, 8/19/2024]
On His Opposition to Reproductive Rights:
“’The answer is there has to be some form of punishment [for women who get abortions],’ Trump said, calling abortion a ‘very serious problem.’” [CBS, 3/30/2016]
After Roe was overturned in 2022, Donald Trump bragged that the decision was “only made possible because I delivered everything as promised, including nominating and getting three highly respected and strong Constitutionalists confirmed to the United States Supreme Court.” [Axios, 6/24/2024]
At the “Faith & Freedom Coalition” Gala in 2023, Trump said he was proud to be “the most pro-life president” in U.S. history. [US News, 4/8/2024]
