How the Supreme Court is using Trump to grab more power for itself

The Supreme Court's Latest Power Play: A Strategic Gambit Against Future Presidents

As the country watches, the Supreme Court is once again waging a subtle yet significant battle for control. In its recent presidential power cases, including Trump v. Slaughter, the Court's Republican majority has been quietly advancing a radical new theory of executive power, one that would grant the president sweeping authority over federal agencies and limit the checks on his power.

This shift is not just about limiting the reach of future Democratic presidents; it's also about cementing the Court's own authority as a check on the president. The unitary executive theory, which has been championed by Justice Antonin Scalia and many other Republican justices, posits that the president holds all executive power, including over federal agencies. This idea has been largely rejected in recent years, but not by this Court.

By ruling in Trump's favor in Slaughter, the Court would effectively be granting the president unchecked control over high-ranking officials at the Federal Trade Commission and other agencies. The implications of such a decision are far-reaching, potentially allowing future presidents to fire judges on specialized courts like the US Tax Court or the military's appeals court without consequence.

But that's not all – this Court is also planning to use Slaughter as an opportunity to rewrite its own authority. Alito has suggested that the Court could simply punt certain issues to a future case, rather than deciding them now. This would allow the justices to sidestep difficult questions about the scope of executive power and give themselves more time to craft their own interpretations.

Or, in a related move, Justice Brett Kavanaugh and Neil Gorsuch are floating a separate idea: allowing the Court to veto any presidential decision they deem too consequential. While this might seem like a novel approach, it's actually an extension of the major questions doctrine – a new legal framework that has only been used once before, during Joe Biden's presidency.

The implications of such a power grab are profound. The Supreme Court would essentially be giving itself the authority to sabotage a future Democratic president's policies or appointments, all under the guise of protecting the Constitution. This is not a healthy sign for American democracy.

As long as Trump remains in office, this shift in power may seem like a minor concern. But it's precisely because we don't know what the future holds that this Court's actions are so disturbing. The Supreme Court should be an impartial arbiter of the law, not a tool for one president to wield against another.

In reality, this Court is playing a game of long-term strategic gain – where the ultimate prize is cementing its own authority as the ultimate check on presidential power. It's a game that could have far-reaching consequences for the very foundations of American democracy.

[GIF: A cartoon of a chess player making a sly move, with a caption "Checkmate?"]

[Image: A meme of the US Supreme Court building with a megaphone in front, shouting "WE'RE IN CHARGE!"]

[Animated GIF: A series of rapid-fire images showing a president getting power, a clock ticking away, and a court judge giving a thumbs up]

The Supreme Court is getting too comfy with itself , if you ask me. This new theory of executive power they're pushing is just a thinly veiled attempt to stay relevant and exert more control over the government. I mean, come on, a unitary executive? That's just a fancy way of saying "we get to decide everything". And now they're planning to punt issues to future cases because, you know, it's too hard for them to make a decision right now .

And what really gets my goat is that they're essentially telling future presidents that if they don't like their decisions, they can just veto them. That's not how democracy works, folks! The Supreme Court should be upholding the law, not making it up as they go along .

I'm worried about what this means for American democracy in the long run. If the Court keeps playing this game of power struggles, we're gonna see a whole lot of gridlock and polarization. And who's really going to benefit from all this? Not the people, that's for sure . The Court should be focused on interpreting the law, not trying to rewrite it to suit their own interests .

omg can u believe whats going on?? like, the supreme court thinks it can just make up its own rules and dictate how future presidents should behave? that's not how our system is supposed to work!!!

i mean i get it, they're trying to assert their authority as a check on the president's power. but at what cost? it's basically giving themselves permission to pick and choose which laws they like and which ones they don't, all while saying its for the greater good

and what really gets me is that they're doing this when trump is in office, but whats gonna stop them from doing the same thing if a democrat is president? it's like they want to create some kind of power imbalance where one side can just bully the other side and get away with it

think this whole thing is super sketchy. Like, I get it, SCOTUS has to make tough decisions and all that, but this new theory of executive power? it sounds like they're trying to pull a fast one on future presidents. What's next? them giving themselves the power to override democratically elected officials? this would be a huge blow to American democracy, in my humble opinion.

Wow , this is getting serious. Like, what's next? The Court just gonna be like "oh, we don't wanna decide anything" and just leave it to future presidents to figure out? That's not how it's supposed to work. It sounds like they're more interested in protecting their own power than actually upholding the law . And allowing them to veto presidential decisions? That's a whole new level of politicization. Not cool

The Supreme Court's trying to flex its muscles again, and I'm low-key worried about it . They're basically trying to create a system where they can just swoop in and override any president they don't like, no matter how constitutional their actions might be. Like, what even is the point of having checks and balances if you can just veto someone else's decisions? It's like playing a game of 'who's got the most power' . And it's not just about Trump - this could happen to any president they don't agree with. I mean, I get that the Court wants to assert its authority, but come on, guys, can't you just stick to interpreting the law instead of trying to rewrite the Constitution?

omg can't believe this the supreme court is basically trying to pass the torch to future presidents and screw over democrats meanwhile i'm over here thinking what's next? they gonna allow themselves to veto bills or something like that it's so shady how they're using trump's cases as a way to further their own agenda without any real checks and balances being put in place the idea of veto power sounds like a recipe for disaster, imagine justices getting together to sabotage a prez's policies just because they don't like them

I'm low-key freaking out about what's going down with the Supreme Court ! They're basically playing this super subtle yet super powerful game where they're advancing this radical theory of executive power, which sounds like it would give future presidents way too much control over federal agencies and judges . I mean, think about it - if a president could just fire judges on specialized courts without consequence, that's basically an end to checks and balances right?

And now they're talking about rewriting their own authority and giving themselves the power to veto presidential decisions? That's not even a healthy sign for American democracy at all. It feels like they're playing this game of long-term strategic gain where the ultimate prize is cementing their own authority as the ultimate check on presidential power, which sounds super undemocratic .

I'm just worried that if we don't stay vigilant and hold them accountable, this could be a major blow to our system of government and the very foundations of American democracy . We need to make sure our Supreme Court is an impartial arbiter of the law, not a tool for one president to wield against another .

The whole thing about this new theory of executive power sounds super shady to me, you know? Like, the unitary executive theory is already kinda problematic, but taking it even further to grant the president control over high-ranking officials at agencies? That's just a recipe for disaster . And what's with all these justices trying to rewrite their own authority? It sounds like they're more interested in protecting their own power than doing what's actually good for the country .

I mean, I get it that they wanna limit the reach of future Democratic presidents, but come on – that's not how you do it. You don't have to resort to some super aggressive and manipulative tactics just to try and control the narrative . And what really gets my goat is that this all sounds like a huge overreach by the Court – I mean, they're basically trying to become the de facto head of state, right? That's not how democracy works.

And let's be real – if Trump were on the other side, this whole thing would be totally flipped around and everyone would be all "oh no, the Supreme Court is out of control!" But because it's a Republican president, suddenly it's all about protecting the Constitution? Give me a break .

This whole thing just gives me the heebie-jeebies. The Supreme Court basically wanting to write its own rules and limit the checks on future presidents is, like, super concerning. I mean, think about it - one day they're saying the president can't do this, and the next they're saying the president can do that because they say so. It's all just a big mess.

And don't even get me started on the whole "vetoing presidential decisions" thing. That sounds like a total power grab to me. I mean, what's next? The Court just deciding who gets to be in charge of the country? No thanks.

I'm not saying this is a new phenomenon or anything, but it feels like we're seeing some major changes in how the Supreme Court operates and that's, you know, pretty scary for democracy.

just think about it - Supreme Court saying they can veto any president's decision what's next? Them making laws? this is getting outta hand, Supreme Court needs to focus on being impartial, not playing politics they're basically giving themselves power to sabotage future presidents' policies

the supreme court just decided to create a whole new level of chaos in washington this "unitary executive theory" is basically giving future presidents carte blanche to do whatever they want, whenever they want. it's like they're playing a game of "what's the most extreme thing we can say about presidential power without anyone noticing?" and honestly, it's super unsettling to think that the court could just sidestep hard questions about executive power altogether... like that's exactly what we need more of - another layer of ambiguity in an already convoluted system

I gotta say , this Supreme Court move is super concerning . They're basically trying to take away the checks and balances in our system and grant themselves more power . I mean, what's next? Are they gonna start making laws or something? It's like they're playing a game of "king of the mountain" – whoever has the most power gets to make all the decisions.

And let's not forget about the implications for future presidents . If this Court can just veto any decision they don't like, that's basically an impeachable offense . It's not healthy for democracy at all . We need to keep our justices impartial and focus on interpreting the law, not trying to micromanage the government .

I'm not sure what Trump is thinking right now, but this move could come back to haunt him in a big way . And for us as citizens, it's just scary . We need to keep an eye on these justices and make sure they're not getting too big for their britches .

I'm getting chills just thinking about it... in my day, we thought the Supreme Court was supposed to be this independent institution that only decided cases based on law and precedent, not politics . Now it seems like they're playing a dirty game of checkers with future presidents, trying to limit their power and gain more control for themselves . It's like they're saying, "Hey, we'll decide your fate, but only if you agree to play by our rules" . This is not how democracy works, folks! We need a court that's independent, impartial, and focused on justice – not some game of power politics . I'm seriously worried about the future of American democracy...

I'm low-key freaking out about this! The Supreme Court just got pretty cozy with the idea of giving themselves more authority, and it's not looking good . If they're allowed to veto presidential decisions, that means they'd essentially have a say in shaping future policies .

Chart time! Here are some mind-blowing stats:

* In 2022, 71% of Americans believed the Supreme Court was too powerful
* Since Trump's presidency, the Court has issued more original opinions than in any other presidential term since 1933
* If this new power grab becomes a reality, it could lead to an average of 50-70% more litigation against federal agencies each year

The unitary executive theory is like a domino effect – if the Court allows presidents to have unchecked control over federal agencies, that opens the door for them to override congressional decisions and even bypass the Senate confirmation process .

In 2024, the Supreme Court's vacancy rate was at an all-time high of 27% . With that many seats up for grabs, it's only a matter of time before another major shift in power occurs. We need to stay vigilant, folks!

I'm literally shook by this news! The Supreme Court's latest move feels like they're trying to rewrite their own rules and give themselves way too much power. I mean, what's next? They're going to start vetting all presidential decisions and essentially become the gatekeepers of democracy? That can't be good for anyone. I'm worried that this is a slippery slope where the Court becomes more interested in advancing its own agenda than upholding the law. It's like they're trying to create a new branch of government without going through the proper channels. What if this sets a precedent and future presidents start playing power games too? We need to keep an eye on this situation and make sure our democracy remains strong and fair for everyone

omg i just cant believe whats going on with the supreme court theyre basically trying to give themselves more power and take it away from future presidents its so sus... like, shouldn't they be impartial? idk but if a future dem president tries to make changes and the court starts sabotaging them thats not healthy for america at all. what if trump isnt even in office anymore and this court has already gotten too powerful?

I gotta say, this Supreme Court move sounds super shady . They're basically saying "hey, we're gonna let you do whatever you want, President" and then claiming they're just doing it to uphold the Constitution . That's not how checks and balances work, guys.

And what's with all these "major questions" this and that? It sounds like they're just making up rules as they go along . I mean, if the Supreme Court starts vetoing presidential decisions willy-nilly, it's basically giving them more power than Congress . That's a recipe for disaster.

I'm all for an independent judiciary, but this feels like a power grab to me . The idea that they're gonna play a long game of "we'll let you do whatever we want now, but only if we get to decide what's best later" is super concerning . It's not about upholding the Constitution; it's about keeping their own seats on the Court .

Let's be real, this is a slippery slope . If they start letting presidents do whatever they want and then claiming that's just following the law, we're gonna have some serious problems down the line . The Supreme Court should be an impartial arbiter, not a tool for one politician to wield against another .

omg what's going on with the supreme court rn they're basically trying to give themselves more power than congress or the president lol it's like they think they're above all that if they keep playing it like this we'll be in a total power struggle in the usa.