Fox & Friends discussing Judge Boasberg

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Right-wing and far-right media figures are attacking a federal judge who ordered the Trump administration to halt deportation flights

Federalist co-founder Sean Davis stated that Judge Boasberg “should be on a plane to Gitmo” over the order

Written by Jack Winstanley, Gideon Taaffe, Jack Wheatley & Pete Tsipis

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Right-wing media have continued their crusade against judges who challenge President Donald Trump and his administration, attacking a federal judge who issued an order to halt the deportation of approximately 250 suspected gang members. After the administration failed to stop the flight, Judge James Boasberg demanded details on the Department of Justice’s “possible defiance” of the order.

Mainstream right-wing and far-right media figures called the judge a “lawless clown,” urged the administration to “impeach and prosecute” him, baselessly claimed his order “risked putting American lives in danger,” and targeted the judge’s family. 

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  • A federal district judge ordered the DOJ to declare how many deportation flights were conducted after he issued a ruling halting them

    • On Saturday, The Trump administration claimed that it had deported roughly 250 alleged members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua under the Alien Enemies Act. The Trump administration invoked the Alien Enemies Act — a 1798 law used to deport foreign nationals during times of war — which has been used only during major wars. The last time the act was invoked was during World War II, when it was used to place thousands of Japanese, German, and Italian individuals in internment camps. [NPR, 3/18/25] 
    • U.S. District Court Judge James Boasberg issued an order on Saturday to block the deportation flights, though it is unclear how many deportations occurred before or after the order was issued. Boasberg’s order demanded the Trump administration cease using wartime powers to deport people, and required that any deportation flights already in progress be turned around. [NPR, 3/16/25; Reuters, 3/17/25]
    • On Monday, Boasberg ordered the Department of Justice to declare by noon on March 18 how many deportation flights had been dispatched in “possible defiance” of his order. [The Associated Press, 3/17/25; NPR, 3/17/25]
    • MAGA media and conservative figures have a long history of going after judges who have ruled against Trump and his administration’s policies. Before and after Trump took office for a second term, right-wing media figures attacked judges who ruled against Trump in his criminal cases and challenged his executive orders. Some figures have personally attacked judges’ family members by name and have even called for their impeachment or arrest. [Media Matters, 8/4/23, 11/1/23, 5/30/24, 2/13/25]
    • Despite Trump officials’ claims that Boasberg’s ruling “supported Tren de Aragua terrorists over the safety of Americans,” court filings show that Boasberg weighed safety concerns when making his ruling. According to Politico, Boasberg concluded that there was “effectively zero” risk in delaying the deportation because deportees were already in custody. [Politico, 3/17/25]
    • Trump called for Boasberg’s impeachment, and Chief Supreme Court Justice John Roberts put out a statement, saying, “Impeachment is not an appropriate response to disagreement concerning a judicial decision.” Roberts: “For more than two centuries, it has been established that impeachment is not an appropriate response to disagreement concerning a judicial decision. The normal appellate review process exists for that purpose.” [Politico, 3/18/25; NBC News, 3/18/25]

  • Some right-wing media figures claimed Boasberg’s order was “dangerous” and “risked putting American lives in danger”

    • The Federalist published an article claiming that Boasberg is “protecting terrorists” and saying preventing their deportation could mean “a few more daughters are raped and killed by terrorist gangs.” The article stated, “Everyone agrees, Tren De Aragua are bad hombres. Who could be opposed to removing terrorists from the U.S.? Hardcore Democrats who passed the bar exam and are still hellbent on seeing Trump fail. Even if it means a few more daughters are raped and killed by terrorist gangs.” [The Federalist, 3/17/25]
    • Article III Project founder Mike Davis called Boasberg a “lawless clown” and claimed, “Following his order would put Americans in grave danger.” [Twitter/X, 3/16/25]
    • Davis also urged Trump to “ignore” Boasberg's ruling. Davis wrote, “The President has a constitutional duty, as the chief executive officer and commander-in-chief, to ignore Judge Boasberg's lawless and dangerous order,” adding, “Next week, the House must impeach Judge Boasberg. And defund his court.”
       [Twitter/X, 3/16/25]
    • Davis additionally claimed that Boasberg was “reckless--at best--with our nation's secrets.” Davis called on Trump to “revoke Judge Boasberg's security clearance.” [Twitter/X, 3/17/25]
    • The Federalist Editor-in-Chief and Fox News contributor Mollie Hemingway claimed that following Boasberg’s order “risked putting American lives in danger.” Hemingway added, “So reckless of Boasberg to have done this.” [Twitter/X, 3/16/25]
    • On The Benny Show, Davis said he hoped “President Trump said f you to Judge Boasberg” and said he was trying to order “the most dangerous thing imaginable.” Davis stated, “I hope President Trump said f you to Judge Boasberg, Bozo the clown judge in DC, because this judge, what he was trying to order is the most dangerous thing imaginable, interfering with an ongoing national security operation, sabotaging the presidency, putting American lives and our allies' lives in grave danger.” [The Benny Show, YouTube, 3/17/25]

  • Some right-wing media figures mocked and belittled Boasberg

    • Fox News host Jeanine Pirro called Boasberg “stupid” and questioned his authority to rule on deportation flights because he is “a local judge.” Pirro stated, “A local judge — make no mistake, this is a local judge, folks, who is a trial judge, he's not even an appellate judge — thinks he can stop international diplomacy for national security issues that involve the American people because he’s a local federal judge. He’s stupid.” [Fox News, The Five, 3/17/25]
    • Fox News co-host Dana Perino said Boasberg and his ruling is like “when a low-level security officer gets a whistle.” Perino stated, “You have a judge that’s sort of like, you know like when a low-level security officer gets a whistle? And then they just want to blow it all the time. And they feel powerful with the whistle. It sort of feels like that a little bit.” [Fox News, The Five, 3/17/25]
    • Fox News legal editor Kerri Urbahn said Boasberg has no oversight  “over matters pertaining to immigration” because he’s not president. Urbahn stated, “Really, what’s his oversight at all? Because last time I checked, this judge was not elected president of the United States and therefore doesn’t have authority over matters pertaining to immigration, national security, and foreign policy.” [Fox News, Fox & Friends, 3/18/25]

  • Some right-wing media figures urged the administration to “impeach and prosecute” Boasberg

    • Sean Davis posted that Boasberg “should be on a plane to Gitmo.” [Twitter/X, 3/15/25]
    • Article III Project founder Mike Davis posted: “I don't say this lightly. But the time has come: Tell Congress to Impeach DC Obama Judge Jeb Boasberg for Keeping Terrorists in America.” [Twitter/X, 3/17/25]
    • The Gateway Pundit posted instructions on how to advocate for impeachment of “crazed leftists” like Boasberg. It described the judge as “a very, very dangerous and lawless lunatic" and “America-hating.” [The Gateway Pundit, 3/17/25]
    • Right-wing influencer Catturd posted, “Impeach this idiot already.” [Twitter/X, 3/17/25; Rolling Stone, 2/9/23]
    • Right-wing comedians the Hodgetwins posted, “Impeach and prosecute,” in response to a post from Davis about Boasberg. [Twitter/X, 3/16/25]
    • Replying to a post about Boasberg, Raheem Kassam, editor of the right-wing blog The National Pulse, posted, “Impeach them all. They wanted to play smash mouth so let’s play smash mouth.” [Twitter/X, 3/16/25]

  • Right-wing media figures called Boasberg’s family members “extreme” and “radical,” and one called for recusal

    • Fox News host Brian Kilmeade called Boasberg an “activist judge” and called his wife a “radical leftist.” Kilmeade said, “This judge has got a wife who is a radical leftist, Hillary Clinton — huge Hillary Clinton supporter. He seems to be an activist judge and he seems to be really getting ahead of himself on how much weight he actually carries in terms of foreign policy with America.” [Fox News, Fox & Friends, 3/18/25]
    • Right-wing commentator Laura Loomer wrote that Boasberg’s daughter “has pronouns in her bio … proving her affiliation with the Left” and said her job means Boasberg should recuse himself. She said his daughter “focuses on criminal defense and advocacy” in her work for an organization that “strongly opposes mass deportations and legislation targeting members of criminal gangs” and thus claimed that “Judge Boasberg has a clear conflict of interest & is obligated to recuse himself from this case.” She added: “Judge Boasberg MUST RECUSE HIMSELF!” [Twitter/X, 3/17/25] 
    • Responding to another related post from Loomer, Rogan O’Handley, who goes by “DC Draino” online, posted that “Loomer just exposed the Federal Judge who tried to stop the flights of MS-13 thugs to El Salvador" and that it “turns out Judge Boasberg’s daughter makes a living giving criminal illegals legal advice.” [Twitter/X, 3/18/25]
    • The Federalist's Hemingway wrote: “Wow. Did not realize Boasberg’s wife is so extreme that she founded an abortuary.” [Twitter/X, 3/17/25]