Here’s what is being said.
A new national poll suggests Americans remain deeply divided over the Supreme Court’s handling of cases involving President Donald Trump, highlighting just how polarized the country has become over the nation’s highest court.
The latest Washington Post/Ipsos poll found that many Americans believe the Supreme Court’s decisions on Trump’s policies are influenced more by political ideology than by the law itself.
The survey, conducted from July 8 through July 13, questioned 2,648 adults nationwide.
According to the results, 46% of respondents said they believe the justices are deciding Trump-related cases based primarily on ideology. Only 25% said the Court is ruling strictly according to the law. Another 28% said they were unsure, while 1% declined to answer.
Supreme Court Delivers Wins And Losses For Trump
Since returning to office, President Trump has experienced a mixed record before the Supreme Court.
The Court ruled against the administration by blocking emergency tariffs on certain imports and striking down Trump’s executive order that sought to restrict birthright citizenship.
At the same time, the Court has also handed the president several major victories.
One of the most significant came in a 6-3 ruling allowing Trump to remove Democrat Rebecca Slaughter from the Federal Trade Commission.
That decision overturned the long-standing 1935 Humphrey’s Executor v. United States precedent, which had limited presidential authority over certain independent federal agencies for more than 90 years.
Supporters of the ruling argue it restores presidential accountability over the executive branch. Critics, however, contend it gives the White House far greater influence over agencies that were intentionally designed to operate with independence.
Liberal Justices Warn About Expanding Executive Power
Justice Sonia Sotomayor sharply criticized the majority’s decision in a dissent joined by Justices Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson.
She argued the ruling does not eliminate agencies like the FTC but fundamentally changes how they operate, giving current and future presidents broader authority than Congress originally intended.
The dissent warned that the decision could significantly reshape the balance of power between the executive branch and independent regulatory agencies.
Trump Calls Decision His Biggest Court Victory
After the Supreme Court wrapped up its term in late June, President Trump praised the FTC ruling, calling it the “biggest and most consequential decision” issued during the session.
The decision has quickly become one of the defining legal victories of Trump’s second term, with supporters viewing it as a major step toward increasing presidential control over the executive branch.
Public Confidence In The Supreme Court Remains Divided
The Washington Post/Ipsos survey also found that Americans remain split over the Supreme Court itself.
Overall, 55% of respondents said they disapprove of the job the Court is doing, while just over 40% approve. About 4% offered no opinion.
The results reveal a sharp partisan divide.
Among Democrats, 75% said they disapprove of the Court’s performance. Meanwhile, 67% of Republicans said they approve, underscoring how differently each party views the Court’s recent rulings.
The poll carries a margin of error of plus or minus 1.9 percentage points.
The Bottom Line
The latest survey shows that the Supreme Court remains one of the most closely watched—and most debated—institutions in American government. As President Trump’s second-term agenda continues to face legal challenges, future Supreme Court decisions are likely to remain at the center of the national political conversation.