Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts issued a clear, if implicit, rebuke of President Trump on Tuesday, intensifying a clash between the White House and the judiciary.

The Trump administration, including the president himself, has repeatedly characterized judges as unfair and even undemocratic when the courts have paused or rebuffed sweeping changes proposed by Trump, Elon Musk and others in the administration.

The battle hit a new level Tuesday morning when Trump contended in an irate social media post that a judge who had sought to halt the deportation of Venezuelan migrants under the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 should be impeached.

That was apparently a bridge too far for the chief justice, a conservative nominated to the high court by former President George W. Bush.

In an unusual statement, Roberts noted, “For more than two centuries, it has been established that impeachment is not an appropriate response to disagreement concerning a judicial decision.”

He added, “The normal appellate review process exists for that purpose.”

The message was couched half-politely but its message was clear: The Trump administration can challenge decisions through the regular process, but it can’t threaten judges with removal on that basis.

Trump is unlikely to heed that message.

In his Tuesday post........

© The Hill