About Trump sitting in the Supreme Court hearing

[Baitball Blogger]

What he’s doing is what I call toxic hovering. The good ole boys use it to great effect. Here, locally, when there was a community scandal which I was vocal about, I experienced it. I would go to a public place like a book store or restaurant and I would notice someone I didn’t even know staring too hard. Within 15 minutes my neighbor, who was heavily invested in keeping me quiet would suddenly show up and glare at me. The scariest was when he sat down across from me at a large table. The glaring left no doubt why he was there. It’s an intimidation tactic:

[gab13by13]

1. Meh, sleeping doesn't intimidate.

[Ray Bruns]

24. Agreed. But wearing a shit full diaper is.

[Marie Marie]

61. Yup, based on his history, courtrooms seem to make all kinds of things escape from his ass.

And it is rumored that the smell is deadly. Alina Habba seems to enjoy it though - everyday she was right there beside her hero, facial pout posing every time she saw the cameras on her. Now she moved close to him in FL. She seems to wear his scent like fine perfume.

[wcmagumba]

2. True, but rump don't scare me...he's just a demented loudmouthed fool...he can't fire the Supremes (or Gladys Knight)...

or the Pips..."pip pip and cheerio, guv'nor"...

[Baitball Blogger]

14. I wouldn't doubt for a second that he has information on the conservative Supremes.

On Kavanaugh he probably has all that information to confirm he was a sexual predator.

On Clarence Thomas, probably all kinds of information regarding the acceptance of bribes.

On the others, could be information on family members.

He's the president who wasn't shy about taking classified documents to Mar o Lago. Some of that information probably involved blackmail material.

[calimary]

29. I'd say no "probably' about it.

“Definitely” would be much more appropriate.

[IbogaProject]

59. Almost irrelevant as our system makes impeachment nearly impossible.

Getting a majority vote through congress and then 67 votes in the senate is a tough endeavor with our current polarization. Now Cheetolini may think he can blackmail those justices but it doesn't mean they will even blink let alone rule in any way but in support of our wealthy elites.

[GoCubsGo]

3. Yes, it's glaringly obvious that's what he's doing.

And unfortunately, most of the people he'll be glaring at are abject cowards. It's a shame they won't glare right back at him.

[Easterncedar]

4. Right. He imagines it will work at the court, but seems likelier to backfire.

But it’s an old move. Remember when he stalked Hillary on the debate stage? What a vile thing he is.

[TheRickles]

10. Still one of my all-time "if only" moments.

If she had turned around to face him and said "What are you doing?", we wouldn't be here now.

[niyad]

30. No. Had she done that, the spin would have been, "Look. She can't handle

the pressure. Weak and afraid." Notice how little criticism or calling out there was by our gutless, misogynist society.

[MustLoveBeagles]

35. You're right

The media never misses an opportunity to bash Hillary.

[MurrayDelph]

31. I'm with you

but in my dreams, she said "Back off, creep!"

[CTyankee]

65. Just a stern "Return to your podium, Donald!" would have sufficed.

and then, "We can start when he is back in his podium, not before."

[MyOwnPeace]

73. Indeed! It was one of those.......

'IF ONLY' moments - you know, after you're driving home after having dinner with a MAGA (yeah, I know - why would one even do that!) - and you think of 4-5-6 things you wish you would have said, but DAYUM, we need to be 'civil' - you know - the 'they go low - we go high' thing.
I truly don't think it would have mattered. If she attacks him, no matter how correct or brilliant it would have been - the MAGAs would have been all over it - and there's no sign that anybody would have supported her for it anyhow.....
She is brilliant - she didn't have a chance............
Our loss.

[wnylib]

74. What if she had paused to ask for air freshener?

[33taw]

37. That was the responsiblity of the voters.

[orangecrush]

45. Agree

[flashman13]

47. When Trump dissed Jeb Bush's wife, if Bush had spun around, went over and got all up in Trump's grill, and

told him, "You can say anything about me, but don't you dare insult my wife or I'll whip your fat ass", he would have been the nominee and possibly President.

[colorado_ufo]

62. I would have hoped she would turn around and say,

"Your place is over there."

If she got called a bitch, she should have doubled down!

[popsdenver]

76. The best would have been for her

to turn to the moderator and say: "Would you please ask Mr. Trump to quit STALKING me around the stage"

The word STALKER is a serious dog whistle to women in America......

[mucifer]

5. Lets hope a few will turn on him.

[SergeStorms]

13. It's more likely they'll cave.

It'd be like John Gotti staring at one particular juror for his entire trial.

Trump thinks he's a mob boss and acts like one. Intimidation is his forte. He'll release his flying MAGAts on any justice who doesn't give him what he wants.

[onenote]

66. Hard to intimidate someone with a lifetime appointment.

But, out of curiosity, what do you think the vote will be in the case? I'm predicting 8-1 on the outcome, but with concurring opinions offering different rationales for the result. Outside chance of it being 7-2 with Alito and Thomas dissenting, or 9-0 with Alito and Thomas offering very narrow grounds for decision.

[Chasstev365]

6. If John Roberts had a conscience, he would be mortified. He doesn't.

[CousinIT]

7. Toxic hovering is what Trump did to Clinton on the stage during the debate

before the 2016 election.

[evolves]

72. That's immediately what came to my mind, too.

He was WAY out of his depth back then. He was way out of his depth today, too.

[johnnyplankton]

8. He'll probably crap himself during the proceedings like he did at his own trial...

Last edited Wed Apr 1, 2026, 09:33 AM - Edit history (1)

But I don't think that will sway the justices...

[3Hotdogs]

17. Depends (pun not intended) on if the stink from a random fart or loaded diaper reaches the bench.

[Goonch]

9. ;-{) Side-Eye

[Irish_Dem]

11. Like a scene out of The Godfather movie.

[FakeNoose]

25. Tony Soprano got a lot of mileage out of this one

[Prairie Gates]

52. LOL, he Vincenzo Pentangeli-ed the Supreme Court

[Irish_Dem]

56. Yep this is the scene.

[Ilsa]

12. He tried a variation of it during a debate with Hillary

Clinton in 2016. He wandered around the stage behind her while she was answering a debate question.

More sociopathic, bullying behavior. I wonder if he will interrupt the hearing.

[chicago guy]

15. Epstein

I could understand trying to play mind games in a lower court, but this group of fools can not be toyed with they are there with a life sentence
:

[PCIntern]

16. People have tried that with me:

“Da fuk you lookin at?” Is my response

[orangecrush]

44. Same

[Straw Man]

60. Yes!

Or direct eye contact and "Can I help you, motherfucker?"

[littlemissmartypants]

81. I usually leave the mother fucker part off though.

I also move in. I figure that I'm either going to be seen as sincere or crazy. Crazy is almost always scary to others.

If they don't back off, I usually follow up with an "Are you OK?" Then possibly if necessary...

"This man needs some help. Can we get some help, please?" Usually loud enough to call attention to the foolishness and embarrass them.

I don't usually have to go that far. But I'm ready.

Crazy usually works.

[3Hotdogs]

18. Unfortunately, camera not allowed in the court. But imagine a 6:00 news video of him falling asleep

during the oral arguments.

[eShirl]

19. He was originally going to join the Jan. 6 insurrectionists at the Capitol.

He thinks he can dominate a co-equal branch of government.

[ananda]

22. He absolutely can and does dominate SCOTUS.

Period

[slightlv]

53. You've come close to touching on my first feeling

about his being there. To me, this is not only an intimidation technique, but it's a *one branch* of the government interfering and intimidating a *separate and equal branch* of government. Has there ever been another instance where the president sat in on SCOTUS hearings? Somebody give that kid a binky, and put him to bed with a clean diaper!

[evemac]

20. Yes! This is what he did with the debate

with Hilary - he literally stalked her during the debate. I am sure it's an attempt at intimidation.
Toxic hovering is a perfect way to describe it!
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/video/2016/oct/10/donald-trump-behind-hillary-clinton-debate-video

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.pbs.org/newshour/amp/politics/upcoming-book-clinton-says-skin-crawled-trump-hovered-debate

[MLWR]

21. I agree. He's going to sit there and cast the "evil eye" on his six fascist puppets.

[Ray Bruns]

26. No he's not. He will be asleep in ten minutes.

[AverageOldGuy]

34. " He will be asleep in ten minutes. "

Yours is nominated as Comment of the Week!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My daughter is one of those high-powered DC attorneys, member of the SCOTUS bar, has sat 2d or 3d chair for a couple of SCOTUS arguments. She says it's so damn quiet in there much of the audience has trouble staying awake.

The "arguments" are not exactly scintillating theater that brings the audience to their feet in cheers.

[Farmer-Rick]

36. Exactly

He will glare and make faces.... maybe even attempt to interject.....in the first 10 minutes. Then when he finds out he can't ramble and speechify, he'll cross his arms and fall asleep.

The falling asleep takes away from the intimidation. It makes him look like a dottering old fool, NOT a mobster in a TV role.

[TNNurse]

23. This was my first thought.

Hopefully, he will fall asleep, maybe snore.

[Ocelot II]

27. Obviously he wants to intimidate them.

But it's likely to backfire. They'll know that's what he's doing and they won't like it (with the possible exceptions of Alito and Thomas, who always roll over for him anyhow). They weren't afraid to rule against him on his pet project, tariffs, and I doubt that seeing his glowering ugly orange face in the courtroom will influence them in his favor. It might even piss them off and remind them (or most of them) that he's not their boss, however much he wants them to believe it. I don't think even Alito and Thomas think he's their boss; they're just fascists all by themselves.

[Seinan Sensei]

75. Some of the Supremes might cave

Because he has the goods on them
But the Supremes, in turn, surely have the goods on HIM.
They know all that we know. Plus some.
He will do whatever it takes to stay in power.
They will do whatever it takes to stay on the bench.
Standoff. Showdown. Stalemate.

[Blue Owl]

28. One thing's for sure he's gonna stink up the chamber

[Wonder Why]

32. He wants to see what he paid for - the judges "earning" their positions due to his "largess".

[AverageOldGuy]

33. 9:40 AM EDST Trump enroute to SCOTUS

They close the doors at 9:55, hearing starts at 10:00.

If he disrupts the hearing will they remove him from the room?

[CapnSteve]

38. Or will he make a big stink when he is too late?

Literally and figuratively.

[33taw]

40. I doubt they will remove him, but they won't hold the hearing for him. I think he is intentionally cutting it close by

leaving at 9:40. On edit: He has entered the courtroom.

[MustLoveBeagles]

39. This is unprecedented

I don't remember a President ever doing this before.

[allegorical oracle]

41. It's a mobster move. Wonder how Uncle Thomas will react if he wants to

support birthright citizenship -- with The Don sitting there.

[bmichaelh]

42. TV Series The Wire

This happened in the TV Series The Wire.

High ranking members of the criminal organization are in the courtroom during a murder trial.

The witness feel intimidated.

Trump is trying to intimidate the justices, especially the ones he appointed.

Thomas does not need intimidation; he will vote anyway Trump wants him to.

[orangecrush]

43. It's exactly what he did to Hillary

In the debate.

[calimary]

79. OMG did I HATE him for that!

I wish she had turned to him and said “why don’t you SIT DOWN AND WAIT YOUR TURN TO TALK?”

It was such a blatant effort to unsettle her! If I didn’t already hate him (which I DID), that would have been enough to get me there. I saw what you did, donald, and I knew what you were trying to do (aka mind-fucking), and I wasn’t fooled for a nanosecond.

Or, maybe SHE should have slithered around behind him when HE was making some point. (Here. Have some mind-fucking back atcha, Chucko.) The movement grabs the eye.

[orangecrush]

82. It was optics

For all the woman haters in his base.

[usonian]

46. He's there to issue an executive odor, right on the spot.

And to glare



Like Frank Nitti.

[milestogo]

48. His presence is an April Fools Day joke.

[bluestarone]

49. This should be one of those 15 minute decisions.

While TSF was sitting there!!

[Scubamatt]

50. I'll never understand

how/why it has taken so long for the media and the public to figure the orange td out. All of this is standard mafia/bully tactics.

[calimary]

80. Some of 'em are still stuck trying to figure it out.

I don’t know why. It’s as bald-faced an intimidation tactic as I’ve ever seen. Sure seemed pretty doggone obvious to me.

[no_hypocrisy]

51. Zzzzzzzzzzz . . . .

[LetMyPeopleVote]

54. MaddowBlog-Trump's attendance at the Supreme Court's birthright citizenship arguments won't help his case

If his radical gambit is likely to lose, why bother with an unprecedented presidential appearance at the high court? There are two prevailing explanations.

Link to tweet

https://www.ms.now/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/why-trump-attending-supreme-court-birthright-citizenship-arguments

Not surprisingly, Trump’s radical gambit has struggled in the courts, which relied on generations’ worth of legal precedent, but the Supreme Court nevertheless agreed to hear the case. Ahead of Wednesday’s oral arguments, the president decided to do something his predecessors never did. MS NOW reported:

President Donald Trump will be watching oral arguments today as the Supreme Court weighs whether the president holds the power to end birthright citizenship. […]

Trump’s presence at the court is significant. He will be the first known sitting U.S. president to attend oral arguments before the high court, according to the Supreme Court Historical Society.

By way of explanation, the president told reporters on Tuesday that he intended to sit in on oral arguments “because I have listened to this argument for so long.” (A day later, I’m not entirely sure what that was supposed to mean.)....

So why bother with an unprecedented presidential appearance at the high court? There are two prevailing explanations — though they’re not mutually exclusive, and both could be true.

The first is that this is part of a ham-fisted intimidation campaign: By literally showing up in person, it’s possible that Trump, who appointed a third of the court’s justices, thinks he can apply extra pressure to those who will decide the case’s fate.

If this is the goal, the president is likely to be disappointed. Unlike congressional Republicans, justices don’t want to be seen as obedient White House loyalists, and it’s easy to imagine Trump’s stunt backfiring.

The other theory is that Trump recognizes the fact that the Supreme Court won’t let him rewrite constitutional law through an executive order, so he went to oral arguments as a political tactic intended to deliver an anti-immigrant message — which the White House sees as more politically salient than other issues that are dominating the public conversation, such as the war with Iran and high gas prices.

“The big thing for Trump is to be seen putting up a fight,” Politico noted. “This policy — always a Hail Mary from a legal perspective — is as much about signaling to the president’s base as it is a serious attempt to change the law.”

Whatever the explanation, if the president expects his order to be upheld, he probably ought to start lowering his expectations. Watch this space.

[MorbidButterflyTat]

64. "...Piggy told reporters on Tuesday

that he intended to sit in on oral arguments 'because I have listened to this argument for so long.'”

This imbecile doesn't even know what the Supreme Court hearings are for. He thinks oral arguments are literally arguing! Maybe why Piggy's dumbshit mouthpiece is yelling!

[ShazzieB]

68. I agree with this analysis.

The idea that he can intimidate the justices is just silly, imo. Sure, he would like to bs able to dothat, and he might THINK he can, but they all know they have lifetime appointments and there's nothing he can really do to them. This part, however, makes a lot of sense to me:

The other theory is that Trump recognizes the fact that the Supreme Court won’t let him rewrite constitutional law through an executive order, so he went to oral arguments as a political tactic intended to deliver an anti-immigrant message — which the White House sees as more politically salient than other issues that are dominating the public conversation, such as the war with Iran and high gas prices.

“The big thing for Trump is to be seen putting up a fight,” Politico noted. “This policy — always a Hail Mary from a legal perspective — is as much about signaling to the president’s base as it is a serious attempt to change the law.”

I agree that Schlump is not going to get the decision he wants from the Supremes. Whether this helps him with his base is another matter. But either way, a president cannot strike down a constitutional amendment with an executive order. The can of worms that would open is one I doubt even the Gruesome Twosome (Thomas and Alito) would want to open.

I wouldn't be surprised if the ruling is 9-0 against him.

[Maj. Dude]

55. Kiddie pool

They should just park his ass in the corner, in a kiddie pool and get him a happy meal and exclude the catsup.

[Smackdown2019]

57. He is use to be in a court room

He usually loses in court, so nothing new to him....

[Mblaze]

58. KKK tactics.

[LeftInTX]

63. I agree. I think it will either backfire on him or it won't make a difference.

This is the first time a president has done this and it's unprecidented.
They don't like power plays

[Martin68]

67. I doubt they are intimidated in the slightest by the sleepy Orange Presence.

[themaguffin]

69. Yeah, of course, but it's not going to work.

[marble falls]

70. He's not intimidating anymore.

[Evolve Dammit]

71. He's been doing it his whole life. On display with HRC debates. He's a fucking criminal mob boss. Period.

[Grokenstein]

77. One of his favorite moves, as we've seen in the past. (EDIT: As others have already mentioned!)

Remember the debate with Hillary Clinton in which he paced back and forth behind her during her responses? "Rawr, I'm a scary lion! Pay attention to me!"

Or the time he posed for a picture holding a baseball bat with both hands, giving side-eye to Mike Pence like he'd just masturbated to Al Capone (Robert De Niro, ironically) committing murder in The Untouchables?

But like his grab-and-yank handshake, none of this schoolyard crap is working for the spray-tan pig-man anymore.

[Jack Valentino]

78. He left suddenly because his ass felt too wet...