President Donald Trump unleashed an early morning rant on Friday, Dec. 5, claiming Democrats were plotting the “complete and total OBLITERATION” of the Supreme Court in what marks the latest unsubstantiated outburst from the 79-year-old commander-in-chief. The social media tirade comes as Trump faces mounting voter disapproval and the looming threat of a blue wave in next year’s midterm elections.
“The Democrats number one policy push is the complete and total OBLITERATION of our great United States Supreme Court,” Trump wrote in his Friday morning post. “They will do this on their very first day in office, through the simple Termination of the Filibuster, SHOULD THEY WIN THE UPCOMING ELECTIONS.”
The president’s post offered no evidence to support his claim that Democrats are planning to expand the court to 21 justices. While some progressive lawmakers have called for court expansion in recent years, such efforts have not gained traction even within the Democratic Party, with many members expressing deep hesitation about altering the court’s structure.
Trump’s Supreme Court meltdown came one day after the court handed him a victory by allowing Texas to use Republican-drawn congressional maps for the upcoming election. The decision sparked outrage among Democrats, who accused the conservative-majority court of rubber-stamping Trump’s efforts to maintain power. The ruling also paved the way for other GOP-controlled states to pursue mid-decade gerrymandering, though it appears to have opened the door for blue states as well. California has already scrambled to carry out its own redistricting effort in response to the Texas decision.
The president’s latest outburst is part of a broader pattern of erratic behavior that has alarmed political observers. Just days earlier, Trump engaged in a massive late-night posting spree, making over 160 posts in a single evening. During that social media marathon, Trump promoted conspiracy theorist Alex Jones and shared an unsubstantiated claim that former first lady Michelle Obama had signed presidential pardons on behalf of former President Joe Biden.
Trump’s political standing has deteriorated significantly in recent months. A Reuters/Ipsos poll showed his approval rating had fallen to 38 percent, marking the lowest level since his return to the White House for a second term in January. The poll, which surveyed 1,017 adults, reflected a two-point drop from early November and a nine-point decline from the 47 percent support he held at the start of his second term.
A separate CNBC poll painted an equally grim picture, showing Trump with just 42 percent approval on economic issues and 44 percent overall approval. The declining numbers have sent alarm bells ringing throughout Republican circles, particularly after the GOP suffered election defeats in Virginia, New Jersey and New York City.
Adding to Trump’s troubles, concerns have emerged about his stamina and focus. The president appeared to doze off during a roundtable event at the White House on Monday, Dec. 1, marking the second time in less than a week that the 79-year-old has been caught struggling to stay awake during an official event. During the Monday roundtable, Trump announced a multibillion-dollar aid package for U.S. farmers who have been impacted by his trade policies.
The president is also facing legal challenges that continue to plague his administration. Trump has asked the Supreme Court to overturn a $5 million ruling that found him liable for sexually abusing writer E. Jean Carroll and defaming her. The case is part of two separate lawsuits that have resulted in Trump being ordered to pay Carroll a combined $88.3 million in compensatory and punitive damages.
Trump has repeatedly sought to have the Carroll rulings dismissed, but courts have consistently rejected his requests. An appeals court upheld the verdict and penalty late last year. In his petition to the Supreme Court, Trump’s attorneys argued there were no eyewitnesses to the assault and no video evidence, police report or official investigation to support Carroll’s claims.
The convergence of legal troubles, declining poll numbers and increasingly erratic behavior has created a challenging political environment for Trump as he looks toward the midterm elections. Republican senators have resisted Trump’s pressure to eliminate the filibuster, pointing out that removing the 60-vote threshold for legislation could backfire if Democrats gain control of the Senate in the future. The president’s Friday post concluded with assurances that Republicans would prevent Democrats from implementing what he called “catastrophic policies,” insisting that the country is “now in very good hands.”
As Trump continues to face mounting pressures from multiple directions, his Friday morning rant about the Supreme Court appears to be yet another example of the president’s increasingly combative approach to political challenges. With midterm elections approaching and approval ratings at historic lows, Trump’s ability to rally support and maintain Republican control of Congress remains uncertain.