Trump’s Attack on Allies Could Backfire Badly

Donald Trump’s recent attacks on the Federalist Society and its co-founder Leonard Leo are being widely viewed as a politically damaging misstep, according to analysis by political science professor Austin Sarat of Amherst College. Sarat, writing for MSNBC, argues that Trump’s decision to publicly denounce Leo as a “sleazebag” and accuse him of hating America, alongside blaming the Federalist Society for poor judicial advice, is “self-destructive.”

The criticism stems from Trump’s frustration with recent rulings, particularly a decision by the U.S. Court of International Trade rejecting his authority for sweeping tariffs. However, attacking the Federalist Society – the organization instrumental in vetting and securing the confirmations of Supreme Court Justices Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrett – risks alienating key influencers within the conservative legal network.

Sarat points out the deep connections between the Federalist Society, Leo, and the current conservative majority on the Supreme Court. He suggests that Trump’s transactional worldview leads him to view the court’s failure to support his attempts to overturn the 2020 election as a personal betrayal, prompting the attacks.

Notably, Republican-appointed judges are ruling against Trump’s current legal challenges at a rate comparable to Democratic-appointed judges, further highlighting the potential futility of his public criticism. Leo, often described as a central figure in the conservative judicial movement, wields significant influence over many judges, and attacking him is unlikely to improve Trump’s standing with the judiciary.

The situation underscores a pattern of Trump targeting both allies and opponents, but in this case, the potential consequences appear particularly counterproductive. By undermining a crucial support network that helped shape the current Supreme Court, Trump may be jeopardizing his future legal battles and demonstrating a lack of strategic foresight. It’s a gamble that, according to Sarat, could backfire significantly.