🚨 BREAKING: Former President Donald Trump Drew Renewed Attention After Sharply Criticizing a Recent Supreme Court Ruling, Framing the Decision as Deeply Flawed and Politically Motivated

Washington D.C. / Palm Beach – February 17, 2026

Former President Donald J. Trump unleashed a scathing attack on the U.S. Supreme Court last night during a fiery livestream from Mar-a-Lago, labeling the justices’ latest ruling in a case tied to his ongoing legal battles as “deeply flawed, rigged, and politically motivated from the radical left.” The comments, delivered in a 38-minute monologue viewed by more than 4.2 million people in real time, have reignited intense national debate over judicial independence, Trump’s post-presidency influence, and the integrity of the Court at a time when America’s institutions are already under unprecedented strain.

The ruling in question came down earlier yesterday from the Supreme Court in a 5–4 decision denying Trump’s emergency motion to stay the enforcement of property seizures ordered by a New York state court in the civil-fraud case. The majority opinion, authored by Chief Justice John Roberts, stated that “no individual, regardless of prior office, is entitled to indefinite delays in lawful judgment execution.” The Court declined to intervene, allowing federal marshals to proceed with asset liquidation to satisfy the $489 million penalty.

Trump wasted no time responding. “This Supreme Court — which I made strong with three tremendous justices — has now been corrupted by the deep state and Biden holdovers!” he declared on the livestream. “The decision is flawed because it ignores presidential immunity, ignores the facts, and is motivated by politics to stop my comeback in 2028. It’s rigged, folks — totally rigged!”

The former president went further, singling out Roberts and the four liberal justices for “betraying the Constitution” and calling the ruling “a gift to the radical left who want to bankrupt me because they can’t beat me at the ballot box.” He also hinted at potential future actions: “We will appeal this all the way — and if needed, the people will rise up peacefully to demand justice!”

The comments have drawn widespread attention and sharp backlash. Within hours, #TrumpVsSCOTUS and #RiggedRuling were trending globally on X, with more than 32 million combined mentions. Legal scholars and commentators from across the spectrum condemned Trump’s rhetoric as dangerous. “Criticizing a ruling is one thing; framing it as ‘rigged’ and ‘politically motivated’ undermines the judiciary’s legitimacy,” said former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder in a tweet. “This is the language of autocrats, not democrats.”

Even some Republican figures expressed unease. Sen. Mitt Romney (R-UT) posted: “Disagreement with the Court is fine, but accusations of political motivation erode public trust in our institutions. We must do better.” House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), however, defended Trump: “The former president has every right to voice his concerns. The ruling raises serious questions about judicial overreach in state matters.”

The Supreme Court itself has not commented, but sources close to the justices say the institution is on high alert. Security around the Court building has been increased, and Chief Justice Roberts reportedly held an emergency conference call with court staff to address potential threats. Advocacy groups like the American Bar Association issued statements urging respect for the judiciary: “Personal attacks on judges for doing their duty are unacceptable in a rule-of-law society.”

The ruling and Trump’s response come at a pivotal moment. Trump is already facing impeachment articles in the House, potential disqualification under the 14th Amendment in the Senate, ongoing property seizures in New York, mass resignations from his legal team, grand-jury developments in Georgia, and a brief walk-off from a Florida rally stage that raised questions about his stamina. His tariff threats against Canada have strained international relations, and internal GOP defections are growing.

Political analysts see Trump’s attack on the Court as a desperate bid to rally his base. “He’s cornered,” said GOP strategist Sarah Longwell. “When the facts aren’t on your side, attack the referees. But this could backfire — independents value judicial independence.” A flash poll from Quinnipiac released this afternoon shows 58% of Americans disapprove of Trump’s Supreme Court criticism, including 37% of Republicans.

Online, the reaction has been polarized and intense. Pro-Trump accounts flooded timelines with memes depicting the Supreme Court as “deep-state puppets,” while critics shared side-by-side comparisons of Trump’s past praise for “his” justices (Gorsuch, Kavanaugh, Barrett) versus his current denunciations. Late-night hosts wasted no time: Jimmy Kimmel opened with: “Trump called the Supreme Court rigged. That’s like a chef calling his own cake burnt after he baked it.” Stephen Colbert ran a skit parodying Trump as a game-show host: “And the answer is… rigged! Every time!”

The controversy has also amplified calls for judicial reforms. Progressive groups like Demand Justice renewed demands for term limits and ethics codes for justices, while conservative voices accused Democrats of politicizing the Court in response to unfavorable rulings.

As the dust settles, the former president’s sharp criticism has ensured that attention remains firmly fixed on the intersection of politics and the judiciary. With disqualification votes looming in the Senate and midterms nine months away, Trump’s framing of the decision as “flawed and motivated” may energize his core supporters — but at the cost of further alienating moderates and independents who see the Supreme Court as one of the few remaining non-partisan institutions in a deeply divided nation.

Whether this latest outburst proves to be a strategic masterstroke or another self-inflicted wound remains to be seen. For now, the renewed attention on Trump’s war with the Court has only deepened the sense that his post-presidency path is one of escalating confrontation — with no off-ramp in sight.