Donald Trump remarked that he had “a lot of fun” during the first hundred days of his second term as President of the United States.
However, the initial phase of his presidency has been anything but smooth, with more than two hundred lawsuits filed against his administration and over seventy judicial rulings issued against his executive actions.
Throughout these three months, Trump has pursued an ambitious agenda aimed at reshaping key aspects of American governance and society. Yet, his moves have met stiff opposition in courts, particularly from federal judges, many of whom have questioned the constitutional basis of his policies.
One of the central issues has been immigration. On 19 April, the US Supreme Court temporarily halted the deportation of Venezuelan nationals by Trump’s administration.
The individuals had been accused of being members of the Tren de Aragua criminal organisation, though families and legal representatives contest the claims.
Following this, three federal judges invoked the 1798 Alien Enemies Act, traditionally used during wartime, to block deportations in various jurisdictions.
In at least one instance, a judge criticised the administration for attempting to sidestep a deportation ban and misleading the court — a case involving a mistakenly deported Salvadoran man from Maryland.
To date, at least nineteen court orders have been issued to suspend or limit mass deportations. Nevertheless, the Trump administration has also secured nine victories, including permission to conduct immigration raids in religious centres and to transfer certain detainees to Guantanamo Bay.
Another legal flashpoint is Trump’s executive order attempting to end birthright citizenship. Scheduled for review by the Supreme Court on 15 May, the policy mandates that children born in the US must have at least one parent who is either a citizen or a permanent resident in order to qualify for citizenship.
Petitioners argue that this directive violates the 14th Amendment of the US Constitution, which guarantees citizenship to anyone born on US soil.
Trump’s administration has also faced legal challenges over its stance on transgender rights. On his first day back in office, the President signed an executive order banning transgender individuals from serving in the military.
This move sparked a wave of judicial interventions, with over a dozen orders blocking the policy and related actions, such as the housing of inmates based on birth sex and the restriction of gender-transition care for minors.
Another contentious order targeted Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) programmes in federal institutions.
Trump’s decision to dismantle these initiatives has been blocked by at least four judges, who are examining whether the actions violate anti-discrimination laws. The administration, however, contends that DEI policies are discriminatory in themselves.
On the economic front, Trump’s effort to halt vast government spending has also come under fire. His plans to suspend clean energy grants worth over $20 billion, cut public health funds, and reduce education and medical research budgets have all faced judicial blocks.
International trade has not been spared either. The President’s decision to impose wide-ranging tariffs on America’s trading partners has triggered at least seven lawsuits, with plaintiffs arguing that he acted without Congressional approval.
Further, Trump’s attempts to impose restrictions on law firms — particularly those representing his critics or involved in past investigations against him — have drawn legal backlash.
Four federal judges have suspended these orders, citing potential violations of the First Amendment, which protects freedom of speech and expression.
Despite this barrage of legal challenges, Trump has continued to present himself as a strong and resolute leader, committed to “Making America Great Again”.
Supporters argue that the lawsuits are politically driven attempts to sabotage his reforms, while critics maintain that the courts are upholding constitutional safeguards.
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