Kagan rejects claims Supreme Court is doing Trump's bidding

Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan has pushed back against claims America's highest court has become a political ally of President Donald Trump, insisting it remains an independent check on executive power despite its strong conservative majority.

Speaking at a judicial conference in Washington state, the liberal justice said critics were wrong to portray the court as simply approving everything the White House wants.

"I don't see this as a court that is just going to rubber stamp what the current administration does," Kagan said. "Quite the opposite."

Points to major defeats for Trump

Kagan highlighted several recent rulings that went against the president, including the Supreme Court's decision to strike down Trump's sweeping tariff programme and its rejection of efforts to end birthright citizenship for children born in the United States to undocumented migrants.

She described the tariffs ruling as one of the most significant judicial setbacks suffered by a sitting president in recent years.

"Tariffs are probably the key policy issue for this president," she said. "I don't think there are many recent decisions where a court has struck down such an important policy."

Conservative—but not controlled

While defending the court's independence, Kagan made clear she still strongly disagrees with many of its recent decisions.

She acknowledged that the conservative majority has delivered a series of rulings reflecting long-standing conservative legal principles, including decisions she believes have seriously weakened the Voting Rights Act.

"I can really dislike that," she said. "But it has nothing to do with becoming the arm of this current administration."

First presidential appearance recalled

Kagan also reflected on President Trump's appearance at Supreme Court oral arguments earlier this year during the case involving his executive order on birthright citizenship.

It marked the first time a sitting U.S. president had attended Supreme Court arguments in person.

She said Trump's presence had little impact on proceedings.

"He was just like a person who came in and sat down and then had to listen to an argument," Kagan remarked, noting that many people inside the courtroom were unaware he was even there.

Court faces growing scrutiny

The Supreme Court has faced intense political scrutiny in recent years, with critics on both the left and right questioning its role in shaping major national policies.

Kagan's remarks appeared aimed at countering claims that the court's 6-3 conservative majority has become politically aligned with the Trump administration.

While acknowledging the ideological divide on the bench, she argued the justices continue to rule independently—even when those decisions strike at the heart of a president's agenda.

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She said Trump's presence had little impact on proceedings.

"He was just like a person who came in and sat down and then had to listen to an argument," Kagan remarked, noting that many people inside the courtroom were unaware he was even there.

She should seek a job as standup comedian instead of be a judge

Bit worrying as someone who is supposed to look at the evidence and base their findings on the evidence.