Most Americans believe the Trump administration should respect federal court orders, according to a recent NBC News poll powered by SurveyMonkey. A striking 81% of adults support the idea that if a court determines an action is illegal, the administration must comply. However, this viewpoint reveals a split among Trump’s strongest supporters, with opinions evenly divided.
Democrats overwhelmingly agree, with 96% saying the administration must follow the law. Independents also lean toward compliance, as 87% think the administration should obey court orders.
This debate gained traction as the White House rapidly rolled out executive actions, particularly in its deportation programs. Stephen Miller, a White House advisor, controversially claimed that judges enforcing the law were engaging in a "judicial coup." Some federal judges have suggested that executive officials might need to face legal consequences for ignoring court orders.
One example highlighting this issue is the case of Kilmar Abrego Garcia. Initially deported due to what the government labeled an "administrative error," his situation escalated to the Supreme Court. The court ruled that the administration should facilitate his return, but the White House delayed the process for nearly two months. Eventually, he returned to face federal charges related to human smuggling.
Looking at public perceptions of the Supreme Court, the poll found that 55% of Americans view it favorably. Interestingly, support varies between political lines: 75% of Republicans and only 34% of Democrats express favorable opinions. However, most people don’t have strong feelings about the court, with only 11% stating they have a "strongly favorable" view.
As the Supreme Court approaches a season of major rulings, upcoming cases, such as one concerning birthright citizenship, could impact these views significantly. This case, while it may not directly address Trump’s ability to end birthright citizenship via executive order, instead focuses on judges’ authority to issue nationwide injunctions against presidential policies.
If the court supports Trump, it may limit judges’ power to block his policies temporarily—something that has already happened at least 39 times during his presidency.
In an interview, Trump expressed his "great respect" for the Supreme Court, which remains a pivotal institution amid this ongoing legal debate.
For further details, you can view the complete results of the NBC News poll here.