Missouri Sen. Torches Activist Judges For Overreach: They ‘Usurp Really Important Power’

Senator Eric Schmitt (R-MO) called out judicial activists during a Monday Fox News appearance, arguing that the district court judges attempting to rein in President Donald Trump were stepping outside their prescribed authority and “taking it upon themselves to usurp really important power.”

Schmitt joined anchor Harris Faulkner on “The Faulkner Focus” to discuss the growing number of district court judges issuing nationwide injunctions against President Trump’s executive actions, and he predicted that ultimately, the Supreme Court was likely to side with the president.

Schmitt began by describing the situation as a 21st century phenomenon and noting that previous presidents really had not been faced with this particular challenge.

“In the first — less than 100 days of President Trump’s administration here, you’ve seen more injunctions than the 12 years between Obama’s two terms and Joe Biden, so these judges are more than willing to play an outsized role beyond their Article III authority.”

Schmitt noted that there was legislation in progress that would clarify beyond question that a district court judge’s power would only extend to the parties involved — and that the Trump administration was already fighting those injunctions that had already been issued.

“As these cases make their way up to the Supreme Court, President Trump is going to be successful because he’s either operating as Commander-in-Chief — or controlling the programming and personnel of the Article II branch.”

WATCH:

Sen. @Eric_Schmitt: "These judges are more than willing to play an outsized role beyond their Article III authority… As these cases make their way up to the Supreme Court, President Trump is going to be successful because he's either operating as Commander-in-Chief — or… pic.twitter.com/J5FE4xxOeK

— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) April 7, 2025

Schmitt went on to accuse the judges of effectively usurping the president’s legitimate authority when they used blanket injunctions to try to stop him from deporting criminal illegal aliens.

“I think a lot of these judges are taking it upon themselves to usurp really important power,” he said. “For example, when President Trump declared a predatory incursion of these criminal violent gangs, he’s well within his Article II executive power to deport them. He can do that. The judge, by stepping in there — Judge Boasberg, by stepping in the case that we’re talking about … that is like that judge dictating missile strikes or deciding troop movements. Those are national security issues.”

WATCH:

Senator @Eric_Schmitt: "I think a lot of these judges are taking it upon themselves to usurp really important power… when @POTUS declared a predatory incursion of these criminal violent gangs, he's well within his Article II executive power to deport them." pic.twitter.com/Nb3UlEkeYf

— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) April 7, 2025

Schmitt concluded with the assessment that Trump was on “firm ground” when it came to those cases reaching the Supreme Court, but he said that it was also important to continue to address the judicial overreach legislatively.