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. All Americans, even the president, must respect and obey them, even if they disagree with the court’s decision. However, the Trump administration has refused to comply with numerous federal court rulings, including around federal funding for state programs, immigration, and voting policies. According to an analysis by The Associated Press, the Trump administration violated orders in at least 31 different lawsuits in its first 15 months—and it has continued to do so in the months following.
Less than a month into the president’s second term, a federal judge blocked the administration from suddenly freezing trillions of dollars in federal funding for programs across the country. A few days after the ruling, the judge found that the administration was continuing to hold up billions in federal funding for states in violation of his prior order.
Months later, another federal judge ruled that the administration illegally deported people to countries they were not from—also in violation of a previous order.
And in August 2026, yet another federal judge scolded federal officials for continuing to work on implementing new mail voting restrictions for the November elections, when a previous order explicitly prohibited them from doing so. (The U.S. Supreme Court later blocked the implementation of the restrictions.).
States United partnered with YouGov on national surveys to better understand Americans’ views on the president’s respect for court rulings. A majority 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. Majorities of Democrats, Republicans, and independents specifically agree that the president should obey orders from the U.S. Supreme Court.
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.