Trump Privately Frustrated With Supreme Court Picks, Especially Barrett

 

Former President Donald Trump has privately voiced disappointment in the Supreme Court justices he appointed, with particular frustration aimed at Justice Amy Coney Barrett, according to multiple sources familiar with the matter.

Trump has complained behind closed doors for over a year that Barrett’s rulings have not aligned with the conservative values she was expected to uphold. Sources say his discontent extends to Justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh as well, though Barrett is the focus of most of his grievances.

According to insiders, some of Trump’s conservative allies have privately described Barrett as “weak” and suggested that her decisions on the bench do not reflect the ideological stance she conveyed during her nomination process in 2020.

“It’s not just one ruling. It’s been a few different events he’s complained about privately,” said a senior administration official.

A spokesperson for Trump said that while the former president may disagree with some rulings, he continues to respect the Supreme Court’s role in the constitutional system.

The private criticism comes at a time when Trump has publicly escalated tensions with the judicial system, especially after recent rulings went against him. Last week, Trump lashed out at Leonard Leo, a key conservative figure who helped shape his list of judicial nominees, calling him a “real sleazebag.”

Trump’s frustration with Barrett has roots in past decisions, including her March vote to reject his plan to freeze nearly $2 billion in foreign aid. The backlash among conservatives was sharp, with some right-wing commentators attacking Barrett on podcasts and social media.

Adding to his displeasure, Barrett sided with Chief Justice John Roberts and the court’s liberal justices in a ruling that allowed Trump to be sentenced in his New York hush money case earlier this year. Though Trump downplayed that decision publicly at the time, insiders say it added to his private resentment.

Barrett also recused herself from a high-profile case last month involving public funding for a Catholic charter school in Oklahoma, citing her prior connections to attorneys involved. The case resulted in a 4-4 deadlock, allowing a lower court ruling against the school to stand—further fueling conservative criticism.

Some Trump allies speculate that threats and intimidation, including a bomb threat targeting Barrett’s sister earlier this year, may have influenced her judicial behavior. Trump has reportedly asked whether increased security for Barrett might help her feel more confident in making decisions aligned with conservative expectations.

Despite his private discontent, Trump has avoided publicly attacking Barrett or the other justices he nominated. “He does truly respect the Supreme Court, so he doesn’t want to torch any of his appointees,” said one senior official. “He’s called on them as a group to rein in the lower courts and do the right thing.”

Notably, much of the criticism overlooks Barrett’s overall record. She has consistently voted in favor of conservative outcomes—supporting Trump-era policies like the transgender military ban, ending deportation protections, and rolling back federal agency authority. In the most recent term, she voted with the court’s two most conservative members, Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito, over 80% of the time.

Still, Barrett occasionally diverges from the court’s hardline conservative bloc. During arguments over whether Trump should receive sweeping criminal immunity, Barrett pressed his legal team with probing questions. Yet, she ultimately sided with the conservative majority in a decision that granted the former president partial immunity.

Barrett, a former law professor and appellate judge, is set to publish a book this September, adding to her high profile on the court. Her complex positioning within the conservative wing ensures she remains a key justice to watch in the years ahead—even as Trump continues to second-guess the appointments that once shaped his judicial legacy.