Sharing the Facts On Americans’ Views About Government Respecting Court Rulings
When a federal court issues a ruling, it’s not a suggestion—it’s the law. Even the president must obey. However, the Trump administration has refused to comply with several federal court rulings around immigration and states’ ability to use federal funds.
Among the orders ignored by the Trump administration was one issued by the Supreme Court to facilitate the return of Maryland resident Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who by the government’s own admission was wrongfully deported. The Trump administration has further ignored federal court orders that demanded El Salvador-bound planes with hundreds of migrants who were deprived of a hearing be turned around, asked the White House to reinstate access to the Associated Press, and required funding improperly withheld from states be restored. This defiance left states without critical resources for education, disaster relief, and programs like Medicaid.
States United partnered with YouGov on a national survey to better understand Americans’ views on the president respecting court rulings. Majorities of Americans across political parties agree that Trump should respect court rulings, even when the courts declare that his administration’s actions are illegal or unconstitutional.
Even so, everyday Americans also need to hear from their leaders about what is happening and what is at stake. Laying out the facts, outlining how the president has defied court orders, and showing the toll of those actions is essential in communicating with the public.
Here are some ways to talk about the executive branch respecting court rulings and the importance of our constitutional system of checks and balances.
On checks and balances
- The Constitution divides power between the states, Congress, the courts, and the president. When a president disregards the courts, he is breaking the very system that protects the rights and freedoms of all Americans.
On executive power
- When a federal court issues a ruling, it is not a suggestion—it is the law. Even the president must comply.
- Trump is taking power that does not belong to him. The Trump administration’s refusal to comply with a court order is a dangerous overreach that threatens the foundation of our democracy.
On the rule of law
- American democracy is built on the rule of law. Ignoring a federal court order is a direct attack on our system of government.
On the court system
- Our legal system is part of the foundation of American democracy. It’s one of the ways we ensure checks and balances are working.
- The recent escalating attacks on courts, judges, and lawyers are a blatant attempt to avoid accountability and intimidate those in a position to uphold our laws.
- Americans have a constitutional right to a lawyer. Any effort by the executive branch to retaliate against professionals for doing their jobs—upholding the law and representing the people—is an abuse of power.
- The law should be applied equally to all people, businesses, and governments in the United States—something the majority of Americans agree with. Attempts to undermine the courts, or go around them, are a direct attack on our system of government.
- This isn’t an abstract legal debate—it’s about whether it’s legal for the executive branch to take away kids’ access to school meals, stop seniors from getting medications, and abandon communities recovering from natural disasters. The courts said no. Defying them hurts real people.
- Governors, attorneys general, and state leaders are working to protect their residents, but Trump’s refusal to follow court rulings has left them scrambling. States shouldn’t have to spend time and resources fighting unlawful executive orders just to keep essential services running.
- States and the federal government work together to serve Americans. But by illegally blocking funding for critical programs, the Trump administration is breaking that partnership with states and abandoning its responsibilities to the American people.
- Ignoring court orders doesn’t just violate the Constitution. It ignores our shared values by tearing families and communities apart with no regard to the law and their rights. President Trump must follow the law. In America, every person is guaranteed due process.
- President Trump is undermining the Constitution and depriving people of their rights. No one, not even the president, gets to rob someone of their due process.
- One of the reasons America has co-equal branches of government is to prevent abuse of power. By ignoring court orders from judges enforcing the law, President Trump is dismissing the constitutional principle of checks and balances.
- When a president disregards the courts, he is breaking the very system that protects the rights and freedoms for everyone in this country.