Trump’s Effort to Expand Presidential Power Faces Legal Setback
Meanwhile, Pete Hegseth Clears Key Senate Hurdle, and Key Developments from Day 4 of the Trump Presidency
President Donald Trump’s attempt to extend the power of the presidency has encountered its first major obstacle, as a federal judge struck down one of his executive orders, calling it “blatantly unconstitutional.” The order in question aimed to prevent children born in the United States to non-citizen or non-resident parents from acquiring U.S. citizenship. The 14th Amendment guarantees citizenship to anyone born on U.S. soil, and Senior U.S. District Judge John C. Coughenour, appointed by President Ronald Reagan, issued a temporary restraining order blocking the measure.
Coughenour emphasized that the issue was straightforward, stating, “I can’t remember another case where the question presented is as clear as this one,” referring to the clarity of the constitutional provision Trump sought to redefine. This ruling is likely to set the stage for a Supreme Court battle. While Trump’s legal team may attempt to push the issue further, past challenges during his first term—including a controversial travel ban—suggest the issue could end up before the high court.
Trump has also made significant moves on Capitol Hill. Despite the setback on his executive order, he continues to push forward with other priorities. On Day 4 of his presidency, Trump signed several more executive orders, including one to declassify records related to the assassinations of John F. Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedy, and Martin Luther King Jr. He also pardoned 23 anti-abortion activists and announced plans to support the development of a “national digital asset stockpile,” a step toward backing cryptocurrencies like bitcoin.
Trump’s administration also made waves at the World Economic Forum, with the president urging Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to boost U.S. investments, aiming to increase the kingdom’s financial commitment from $600 billion to $1 trillion.
Amid these actions, former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and former State Department adviser Brian Hook had their security details removed by the federal government, and Trump’s administration issued a warning to federal employees about reporting colleagues working in diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility positions.
In a positive turn for the president, Trump secured a key win in the Senate as Pete Hegseth advanced one step closer to becoming Defense Secretary. Senators voted 51-49 to advance Hegseth’s nomination, overcoming opposition from two Republican moderates, Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins. Hegseth’s confirmation now looks likely by Friday night.
Meanwhile, John Ratcliffe was confirmed as CIA Director in a bipartisan vote of 74-25, marking another victory for Trump’s cabinet nominees. A number of other high-profile confirmation battles are still to come, including nominees for the positions of Health and Human Services Secretary and Director of National Intelligence.
Stay tuned for more updates in our next edition.