The US Supreme Court delivered a landmark decision on Friday, significantly limiting the ability of federal judges to issue nationwide injunctions, a move poised to dramatically expand President Donald Trump's executive power. This ruling, which came at the six-month mark of his second administration, acts as a high-octane fuel for his already sweeping view of presidential authority, freeing his hand to pursue policies in increasingly expansive ways. For a president who frequently decries unelected judges exceeding their mandate by blocking his initiatives, the Supreme Court's decision served as a profound vindication, alleviating a burden that had frustrated a string of presidents including George W. Bush, Barack Obama, and Joe Biden.

Former US District Court Judge Shira Scheindlin noted that Trump has now become a more powerful executive, acknowledging that many presidents have expressed dissatisfaction with national injunctions, stating, "It depends whose ox is being gored." White House officials highlighted a key line from Justice Amy Coney Barrett's majority opinion: "When a court concludes the executive branch has acted unlawfully, the answer is not for the court to exceed its power too." This particular endorsement from Justice Barrett, whom Trump appointed during his first term and had privately expressed frustration with, marked a significant turning point in their relationship.

While the ostensible issue in the ruling was birthright citizenship, with potential immediate repercussions on who qualifies for US citizenship in certain states, Trump's focus was clearly on the broader implications for his executive authority. Emerging from the White House Briefing Room, an ebullient Trump declared, "Thanks to this decision, we can now promptly file to proceed with these numerous policies and those that have been wrongly enjoined on a nationwide basis." He listed several policies he now intends to unblock, including ending funding for "sanctuary cities," suspending refugee resettlement, freezing federal funding, and blocking taxpayer funds for transgender medical care, stating, "We have so many of them."

Despite other avenues plaintiffs could pursue to challenge his orders, and the possibility that many may still ultimately reach the Supreme Court, Friday was a day of celebration for President Trump. He expressed great delight not only in the ruling but also in the court itself, viewing it as the capstone of a remarkable week. His hour-long news conference was a victory lap for both the birthright citizenship executive order and his decision to launch military strikes on Iran, even though the long-term outcomes of both remain uncertain.

Attorney General Pam Bondi, standing alongside the President, echoed his sentiments, asserting that the ruling effectively ended a problem that allowed "district court judges to be emperors" who "vetoed all of President Trump's power." This, she stated, has been a bipartisan issue spanning five presidential terms, now resolved. Trump emphasized his gratitude to the Supreme Court, specifically thanking Justice Barrett for her "brilliantly" written opinion, along with Chief Justice Roberts and Justices Alito, Gorsuch, Kavanaugh, and Thomas.

This outcome is particularly notable given Trump's unique position of having appointed three Supreme Court justices in his first term, now witnessing the fruits of their conservative labors. The ruling is expected to be applauded by future presidents across the political spectrum. As his second term progresses, Trump faces other significant challenges, including an impasse over a monumental tax-and-spending bill containing much of his domestic agenda, and the early stages of midterm election campaigns, with Republican pollsters warning of potential political fallout from proposed cuts to Medicaid and other social safety-net programs. Nevertheless, Trump expressed no anxiety, maintaining that his bill would benefit all Americans, blaming Democratic opposition solely on their unwillingness to vote for him.