In a rare clash between the executive and judiciary, Chief Justice John Roberts dismissed calls for impeaching federal judges after President Donald Trump urged the removal of a judge who ruled against his deportation policies.
Roberts said in a statement, “For more than two centuries, it has been established that impeachment is not an appropriate response to disagreement concerning a judicial decision. The normal appellate review process exists for that purpose.”
Newsweek has reached out to the White House for comment via email on Tuesday afternoon.
U.S. President Donald Trump (L) greets Chief Justice of the United States John G. Roberts, Jr as he arrives to deliver an address to a joint session of Congress at the U.S. Capitol on March…
U.S. President Donald Trump (L) greets Chief Justice of the United States John G. Roberts, Jr as he arrives to deliver an address to a joint session of Congress at the U.S. Capitol on March 04, 2025, in Washington, DC.
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Why It Matters
Only 15 judges have been impeached in U.S. history, with just eight removed, according to the federal courts governing body.
The most recent judicial impeachment occurred in 2010, when G. Thomas Porteous Jr. of New Orleans was impeached for accepting bribes and lying about it. The Senate convicted and removed him from office in December 2010.
What to Know
At the center of the dispute is the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, a rarely used wartime law that Trump invoked to justify mass deportations, claiming an “invasion” by the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua. His administration is financing El Salvador to imprison suspected gang members.
Boasberg blocked the deportations and convened a hearing Monday to address “possible defiance” of his ruling after two flights proceeded to El Salvador despite his verbal order to halt them.
In a Tuesday morning social media post, Trump called U.S. District Judge James E. Boasberg, appointed by former President Barack Obama, an unelected “troublemaker and agitator.” Boasberg had recently blocked deportation flights, ruling against Trump’s use of the Alien Enemies Act, an 18th-century wartime law, to justify the policy.
“HE DIDN’T WIN ANYTHING! I WON FOR MANY REASONS, IN AN OVERWHELMING MANDATE, BUT FIGHTING ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION MAY HAVE BEEN THE NUMBER ONE REASON FOR THIS HISTORIC VICTORY,” Trump wrote on his social media platform, Truth Social. “I’m just doing what the VOTERS wanted me to do. This judge, like many of the Crooked Judges’ I am forced to appear before, should be IMPEACHED!!!”
Trump’s latest remarks have heightened tensions with the judiciary, one of the few institutions restraining his administration’s aggressive agenda. He has frequently attacked judges, particularly those who limit his efforts to expand executive power and implement sweeping federal policies. However, his call for impeachment—a measure typically reserved for severe ethical or criminal misconduct—marks a significant escalation in the executive-judicial conflict.
While House Republicans could initiate impeachment with a simple majority, removing Boasberg would require a two-thirds Senate vote, making it an uphill battle.
What People Are Saying
Attorney and Trump ally Mike Davis, on X: “Dear Chief Justice John Roberts: For more than two centuries, it has been established that impeachment is a political decision by Congress. An activist judge ordering planes to turn around during a national-security operation is not a ‘judicial decision.’ That is a highly illegal and extremely dangerous sabotage of the presidency, which is an impeachable offense. Your statement is not an appropriate response. The normal impeachment process exists for that purpose.”
Liberal lawyer Norm Eisen, on X: “Chief Justice sending a signal — Trump won’t get SCOTUS relief.”
What Happens Next
As Trump’s sweeping agenda meets resistance in the courts, calls to impeach judges have intensified. At least two members of Congress have announced plans online to introduce impeachment articles against Boasberg. Meanwhile, House Republicans have already filed impeachment articles against Judges Amir Ali and Paul Engelmayer over rulings in Trump-related lawsuits.
Separately, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt is among three administration officials facing a First- and Fifth-Amendment lawsuit from The Associated Press (AP). The news agency alleges retaliation for editorial decisions opposed by the administration. However, the White House defends its stance, claiming the AP failed to comply with an executive order requiring the Gulf of Mexico to be referred to as the Gulf of America.
Reporting by the Associated Press contributed to this story.
This is a developing news story and will be updated as more information is available.
Update: 3/18/25, 12:25 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.
Update: 3/18/25, 12:35 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.
Update: 3/18/25, 1:31 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information and remarks.