President Trump prioritizes two things: money and power. Last week, we saw examples of both. On Wednesday, a message was posted on the Trump meme coin website, stating: “220 Special $TRUMP Meme Coin Holders will be Invited to an unforgettable Gala DINNER with the President on May 22, 2025. FOR THE TOP 25 COIN HOLDERS, YOU are Invited to an Exclusive Reception before Dinner with YOUR FAVORITE PRESIDENT! PLUS, We have separately arranged a Special VIP Tour for you—so make sure you stay in town.” (This was copied exactly as written.)
A Trump-affiliated entity owns 80% of the meme coins and receives a fee for each transaction. Not surprisingly, the price of the meme coin surged. This arrangement is worse than the typical pay-for-play scheme, since the money goes directly into Trump’s pocket rather than through a campaign fund.
When it comes to power, at the time I wrote my last column, the Trump administration had not yet complied with the Supreme Court’s order to return Garcia to the United States. After I wrote that column, United States 4th Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Wilkinson, writing on behalf of a three-judge appellate panel, issued a decision denying the Trump administration’s application for a stay of the order directing them to return Abrego Garcia to the United States. Judge Wilkinson was appointed to the appellate court by President Ronald Reagan.
The Court noted that the “government is asserting a right to stash away residents of this country in foreign prisons without the semblance of due process that is the foundation of our constitutional order. Further, it claims in essence that because it has rid itself of custody, there is nothing that can be done. This should be shocking not only to judges but to the intuitive sense of liberty that Americans far removed from courthouses still hold dear.”
The Court addressed the elephant in the room: “The respect that courts must accord the Executive must be reciprocated by the Executive’s respect for the courts. Too often today, this has not been the case, as calls for impeachment of judges for decisions the Executive disfavors and exhortations to disregard court orders sadly illustrate.”
The Court concluded, “We yet cling to the hope that it is not naïve to believe our good brethren in the Executive Branch perceive the rule of law as vital to the American ethos. This case presents their unique chance to vindicate that value and to summon the best that is within us while there is still time.”
The Trump administration responded to Judge Wilkinson’s plea by sending a clear message to the judiciary: “We are not going to abide by orders we do not like, even if they are coming from the Supreme Court. Garcia is in El Salvador, and he is not going anywhere.” In other words, the administration is openly breaking the law. Conversely, if a judge does something the administration dislikes, and there is any basis to charge them with a crime, they will face consequences. Not only will they be arrested and charged, but it will be done in a manner to maximize impact. For example, Wisconsin state Judge Hannah Dugan was arrested in her courthouse and subjected to a “perp walk” (where the arrested person is walked in a public area in handcuffs with law enforcement) so that a picture of her in handcuffs could be taken. The FBI director posted a picture of her in handcuffs during the perp walk on the FBI website. I have heard conflicting stories about what occurred when ICE and the FBI came to Judge Dugan’s courtroom to take a person who had a case before her. The issue is not what this judge did but the message the administration is trying to send to the judiciary.
There are compelling reasons why ICE should not come to courthouses. It creates a chilling effect on those with immigration issues who need to attend court to bring proceedings or serve as witnesses in a case. Do we want murderers or other violent criminals to go free because a witness to a crime is an undocumented migrant? Do we want children being abused by one parent whose other parent is afraid to report the abuse because of their immigration status? These are just two examples of why it is a bad idea to have ICE come into courthouses to pick up individuals who are undocumented.
The executive branch’s goal is to obtain absolute power. They understand that the judiciary stands in their way. They believe their heavy-handed tactics will intimidate judges—whether state or federal—from opposing them. They are in for a rude awakening.
To date, the United States Supreme Court has been silent about its order being violated. However, the Court has acted in other ways to limit the administration. In a five-to-four decision, the Court agreed to grant an emergency stay to Venezuelan undocumented migrants who argued that the government would deport them overseas without giving them a chance to dispute their removal. The government claimed there was no need for this stay since there were no plans to deport them. However, the Supreme Court, having observed the government’s actions in the El Salvador deportations—lying and obfuscating to the District Court Judge—decided that the administration’s representations could not be trusted.
The Trump administration repeatedly argues that Trump has a mandate from the voters to do what he is doing. I have not seen anywhere in the Constitution or in any statute that constitutional rights or other laws do not apply because a president was elected with a mandate.
There is hope, however, because last week, Trump backed down in other situations due to losses in court. One example was the Trump administration backing off its revocation en masse of international student visas.
In the short term, the battle between the Trump administration and the courts will likely continue to intensify. However, as Trump’s approval ratings decline and as we approach the 2026 elections, his power will weaken. As a result, the rule of law, upheld through the judiciary, will prevail.
Warren S. Hecht is a local attorney. He can be reached at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
