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Trump Once Again Attacks the Judiciary, Dismissing Courts as 'So Political'

A protester outside of the ninth court of appeals in San Francisco, which on Sunday dismissed a motion by President Donald Trump to reinstate his travel ban. (Photo: AP)

Trump Once Again Attacks the Judiciary, Dismissing Courts as 'So Political'

'I don't ever want to call a court biased, so I won't call it biased," President Donald Trump said. "But courts seem to be so political."

President Donald Trump once again attacked the U.S. court system on Wednesday, complaining that the judiciary branch is "so political" while a federal appeals court weighs arguments regarding the administration's travel ban for immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries.

"While other presidents have publicly disagreed with court decisions, none before Trump has gone after individual judges with personal invective. None has tried to intimidate individual judges. None has questioned the legitimacy of the courts."
--Robert Reich
"I don't want to call a court biased, so I won't call it biased," Trump told a gathering of law enforcement officials in Washington, D.C. "Courts seem to be so political and it would be so great for our justice system if they could read a statement and do what's right."

Trump was incensed after U.S. District Judge James Robart in Seattle blocked the travel ban last week, and went so far as to personally condemn Robart in a series of angry tweets.

"I think it's a sad day. I think our security's at risk today," Trump complained again on Wednesday.

Watch Trump's comments in full here:

The president also appeared to blame the judicial system for a supposed risk to "security" and "safety" on Twitter earlier that morning:

Many pundits and observers have been sounding the alarm about Trump's assault on the nation's courts.

As Robert Reich wrote: "While other presidents have publicly disagreed with court decisions, none before Trump has gone after individual judges with personal invective. None has tried to intimidate individual judges. None has questioned the legitimacy of the courts."

"Trump doesn't want any resistance," Reich added. "He wants total control."

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