Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has come under fire for his conflicting responses to recent Supreme Court rulings. Just hours after praising the Court for upholding aspects of the Affordable Care Act, Schumer blasted the same Court as an “extremist MAGA court” for limiting district judges’ ability to issue nationwide injunctions. In a strongly worded post on X, Schumer called the decision “terrifying,” accusing the Court of “defacing” the Constitution and enabling Donald Trump’s “crusade to unravel the foundations of American democracy.”
This criticism followed a ruling that allowed Trump’s executive order on restricting birthright citizenship to take effect in limited areas, pending further legal challenges. The order reinterprets the 14th Amendment, aiming to deny automatic citizenship to children born in the U.S. to non-citizen parents. Legal scholars are divided, with some viewing it as a necessary clarification, while others call it unconstitutional.
Notably, Schumer’s outrage came only hours after he praised the same Supreme Court for a decision preserving preventive health care coverage under the Affordable Care Act. In that statement, he applauded the Court for defending access to essential care like cancer screenings and HIV prevention. Just a day earlier, however, he condemned another Court decision impacting women’s health care, again accusing the “MAGA court” of endangering Americans’ rights.
Schumer’s rhetorical whiplash has raised questions about consistency and political strategy. Critics argue that he adjusts his stance depending on whether the Court’s ruling aligns with his party’s priorities, undermining his credibility. They view the rapid changes in tone as opportunistic, especially given the short time span between the statements.
While it’s not uncommon for politicians to react strongly to controversial rulings, Schumer’s back-and-forth highlights a broader concern about how partisanship is shaping public perceptions of the judiciary. As trust in the Court continues to waver, such responses may further deepen divisions over its role in American democracy.
