Stephen Miller Sparks Fury With Attack on Trump-Appointed Judge: ‘Genuinely Disgusting’
AP Photo/Patrick Semansky
Stephen Miller, President Donald Trump’s deputy White House chief of staff, sparked a wave of anger over the weekend with his attack on a Trump-appointed judge who blocked the president’s National Guard deployment in Portland.
U.S. District Court Judge Karin Immergut ruled against Trump’s order sending troops into the Oregon city on Saturday in a scathing decision.
“This is a nation of Constitutional law, not martial law,” Judge Immergut concluded, adding that Trump’s orders “risk blurring the line between civil and military federal power — to the detriment of this nation.”
Miller soon after replied to the judge, sharing her opinion and writing, “Legal insurrection.” He continued:
The President is the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces, not an Oregon judge. Portland and Oregon law enforcement, at the direction of local leaders, have refused to aid ICE officers facing relentless terrorist assault and threats to life. (There are more local law enforcement officers in Oregon than there are guns and badges in the FBI nationwide). This is an organized terrorist attack on the federal government and its officers, and the deployment of troops is an absolute necessity to defend our personnel, our laws, our government, public order and the Republic itself.
Earlier in the day, Miller also posted a wild attack on the left, writing, “The issue before is now is very simple and clear. There is a large and growing movement of leftwing terrorism in this country. It is well organized and funded. And it is shielded by far-left Democrat judges, prosecutors and attorneys general. The only remedy is to use legitimate state power to dismantle terrorism and terror networks.”
His posts led to widespread condemnation. Conservative columnist David French replied, “This kind of rhetoric is incredibly dangerous for the judge. Miller constantly deploys deranged rhetoric, even as he claims the left incites violence with its own language. If Miller believes that rhetoric can lead to violence, then he knows exactly what he is doing.”
The Atlantic’s Derek Thompson replied, “This sweaty online lust to obliterate the judicial system and declare martial law is genuinely disgusting stuff. I don’t think the word fascism should be thrown around or depreciated through overuse, but if your top advisers are going around calling for an autocratic executive to suspend the judiciary and declare martial law, the whole ‘don’t call me a fascist’ thing loses its punch.”
California Governor Gavin Newsom (D) called on Trump to fire Miller, writing “A senior White House official accusing a federal judge — appointed by his own boss — of ‘insurrection’ for ruling on a case isn’t just reckless. It’s authoritarian propaganda, plain and simple. Stephen Miller should be fired.”
Below are some additional reactions:
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