Elon Musk’s crusade against federal judges
By Throughine News
Elon Musk’s words are clear throughout his recent rampage against the federal judges blocking President Trump’s executive orders: “The only way to restore rule of the people in America is to impeach judges,” he wrote on his X account on March 14, 2025. Musk is rallying conservative voices on his social media platform to condemn what some call “activist judges,” and their efforts to block at least six Executive Orders of President Trump’s.
Musk has lambasted federal judges over 30 times on his X account since Trump’s second term started in January. Musk believes that X is the world’s public square for communication, and he has the most followers out of anyone on X. His reach is profound. X is where Musk often goes to attack rivals of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), and federal judges are in his crosshairs most recently.
Musk has even said that what judges are doing to Trump’s executive orders is considered “Tyranny.” When federal judges rule against Donald Trump, Musk often posts within hours about it. On February 10, he wrote, “That the worst 1 percent of appointed judges, as determined by elected bodies, be fired every year.” The common themes of Musk’s posts are accusations of corruption, overreach, and undermining democracy.
Article III of the Constitution establishes the judiciary, headed by the Supreme Court, with power to interpret laws and resolve disputes. This ensures no branch, including the executive, operates unchecked. A federal judge can block an executive order if it oversteps the President’s constitutional authority or violates laws passed by Congress. Chief Justice John Marshall wrote, “It is emphatically the province and duty of the judicial department to say what the law is.”
In President Trump’s second term, four major executive orders have been blocked. President Trump attempted to end birthright citizenship via executive order, but it was blocked on January 23, 2025, by Judge John Coughenour in Seattle. The judge called it “blatantly unconstitutional” due to conflicts with the 14th Amendment. He also said that “The president cannot change… this Constitutional right via an executive order.”
Then, there was the federal funding freeze, where two judges paused the order, including one on February 3, 2025. They ruled that Trump lacked the authority to withhold congressionally appropriated funds.
Leaping to the next major executive order blocked, DOGE was denied Treasury access. Judge Engelmayer blocked Musk’s DOGE team from accessing Treasury systems, citing privacy and legal concerns, reported around early March 2025.
With the biggest blow to DOGE’s efficiency, on March 13, 2025, Judge William Alsup reinstated workers fired under Trump’s push to slash government headcount, calling the mass firings a “sham.” There is a trend of Trump’s executive orders either being a violation of federal law, constitutional overreach, or lack of congressional authority.
Judicial blocks fuel Musk’s outrage, amplifying his anti-judge narrative. His posts embolden Trump allies. As an unelected figure close to Trump, Musk wields direct influence with the President’s base. The question is: Can Musk’s rhetoric start a revolution against federal judges? Or will the courts hold firm against the billionaire-backed blitz?
