The United States Vice-President JD Vance has claimed that judges “aren’t allowed” to control the president’s “legitimate power” in light of rulings temporarily blocking some of President Donald Trump’s executive orders.
The VP’s explosive words were posted on X after Judge Paul Engelmayer issued an injunction stopping Elon Musk’s “department of government efficiency” (DOGE) unit from accessing the Treasury department’s central payment system.
The DOGE unit was allegedly seeking access in search of corruption.
“If a judge tried to tell a general how to conduct a military operation, that would be illegal,” Vance wrote on social media.
“If a judge tried to command the Attorney-General in how to use her discretion as a prosecutor, that’s also illegal. Judges aren’t allowed to control the executive’s legitimate power.”
The comments drew heavy criticism, including accusations that the VP was threatening the constitution.
Also responding via X, Daniel Goldman, a Democratic representative from New York said the actions from judges was “rule of law” and that “our constitution created three co-equal branches of government to provide checks and balances on each other (‘separation of powers’).”