FnF News
Trump Allies Say “Democrat Judges Have All the Power” Amid Mounting Legal Losses
By Khadija Khan | FNF News | May 29, 2025
WASHINGTON, D.C. — As former President Donald Trump continues to battle multiple criminal and civil cases, his allies are pushing a new narrative: that “Democrat judges” hold unchecked power in the United States — and are using it to wage war against conservatives.
“Democrat judges seem to have all the power in the U.S. Make it make sense,” said Trump campaign adviser Jason Miller on Wednesday. “It’s not justice — it’s a coordinated effort to destroy President Trump and the America First movement.”
This sentiment — once a fringe complaint — has now become a common refrain within the Trump campaign and right-wing media ecosystem. The idea is that liberal judges, often appointed by Democratic presidents, are using the courts to override elections, stifle opposition, and tilt the 2024 race in President Joe Biden’s favor.
The Power of the Bench
The claim comes as Trump’s legal troubles deepen. The former president has been indicted in four criminal cases and found liable in two major civil trials. Each of these cases is presided over by a different judge — several of whom were appointed by Democratic presidents.
- Judge Tanya Chutkan (Obama appointee) is overseeing Trump’s federal election interference case in Washington, D.C.
- Judge Juan Merchan (New York State judge, appointed by a Democratic administration) presided over Trump’s criminal trial for falsifying business records.
- Judge Arthur Engoron (New York State Supreme Court) ruled against Trump in a civil fraud case, ordering a $454 million penalty.
These judges have issued rulings that infuriate Trump’s legal team, including gag orders, restrictions on public statements, and strong judicial language rebuking Trump’s conduct.
“There’s a pattern here,” said Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ). “These aren’t impartial jurists. They’re Democrat activists with lifetime appointments — and they’re reshaping the election through legal warfare.”
Judicial Independence or Political Weapon?
Legal scholars push back on the idea that judges are partisans simply because they were appointed by a Democratic president or governor.
“A judge’s job is to apply the law, regardless of who’s in the defendant’s chair,” said Neal Katyal, former Acting Solicitor General. “Blaming judges for issuing unfavorable rulings is politics — not law.”
Still, Trump and many of his supporters argue that liberal judges go beyond applying the law — that they act as de facto political agents aligned with progressive causes.
Fox News host Jesse Watters told viewers on Monday:
“Democrat judges have become the most powerful unelected officials in the country. They can jail a president, silence his speech, and even influence an election. How is that democracy?”
Republicans Call for Judicial Reform
Some Republican lawmakers are now calling for judicial reforms aimed at reining in what they call “activist judges.” Proposed measures include:
- Term limits for federal judges
- Easier impeachment processes for “biased” judges
- Restrictions on jurisdiction over federal elections
“This isn’t just about Trump — it’s about fairness,” said Senator J.D. Vance (R-OH). “When liberal judges hold all the cards, the system breaks down.”
Critics, however, warn these proposals threaten to undermine judicial independence and invite political interference in the courts.
“The reason judges have lifetime appointments is to insulate them from political pressure,” said Kimberly Wehle, a constitutional scholar and former federal prosecutor. “If we start punishing judges for ruling against politicians, we’re in very dangerous territory.”
Are “Democrat Judges” Overrepresented?
Statistically, federal judges are appointed by presidents from both parties, and the bench is more balanced than Trump’s rhetoric suggests.
According to the Federal Judicial Center:
- Of the 677 active federal district court judges, about 51% were appointed by Republican presidents.
- Of the 179 circuit court judges, 54% were GOP appointees as of May 2025.
President Joe Biden has appointed 195 judges since taking office — fewer than Trump’s 234 total appointments during his term.
“Trump is the reason the federal judiciary leaned conservative,” said Elizabeth Wydra, president of the Constitutional Accountability Center. “But now that he’s facing legal consequences, he’s trying to discredit the system he helped build.”
Public Opinion Shifting
Polls show that public confidence in the judiciary is slipping, especially among Republicans. A recent Pew Research Center survey found:
- Only 28% of Republicans say they trust the courts to be fair and impartial.
- 65% of Democrats say they still have faith in the courts.
This growing gap mirrors the political divide over Trump’s prosecutions — with Republicans calling them partisan witch hunts and Democrats viewing them as long-overdue accountability.
Courts in the Crossfire
The rise of judicial criticism from Trump and his inner circle has had real consequences. Judges have reported a surge in threats, prompting enhanced security measures.
- In March, a man was arrested for threatening to kill Judge Chutkan.
- Judge Merchan’s daughter was doxxed online after Trump referenced her in social media posts.
- The U.S. Marshals Service says threats against judges have more than tripled since 2017.
“This rhetoric has consequences,” said former federal judge Nancy Gertner. “When a political movement declares war on the courts, violence is not far behind.”
A Campaign Against the Courts
Trump’s narrative — that “Democrat judges” control the system and are using it against him — has become central to his 2024 campaign.
“The judges are rigging this election!” Trump told a rally crowd in Michigan. “They want to silence me, jail me, and stop you from voting for me. But we won’t let them.”
Political strategists say Trump is using the courts as a foil — just as he once used the media, the FBI, and the “deep state.”
“The more he’s in legal trouble, the more he blames judges,” said Republican strategist Sarah Longwell. “It’s a strategy to delegitimize every institution that holds him accountable.”
Conclusion
As Donald Trump faces growing legal exposure, his team has found a new enemy to rally against: “Democrat judges.” While critics call the attacks dangerous and unfounded, the message resonates with a base that sees the courts not as neutral arbiters, but as political weapons aimed at their movement.
Whether this strategy will help Trump in court remains uncertain. But on the campaign trail, it’s already become one of his most powerful rallying cries.