Chief Justice John Roberts strongly rebuked Donald Trump’s call for the impeachment of a federal judge who halted deportation flights of Venezuelan migrants

In a rare public statement, Chief Justice John Roberts condemned Trump’s judicial impeachment call after Donald Trump demanded the removal of District Judge James Boasberg. Trump lashed out on social media, calling Boasberg a “radical left lunatic” after the judge blocked the deportation of Venezuelan migrants and ordered flights to turn back mid-air.

The ruling did little to deter the Trump administration, which argued the judge’s decision came too late after planes had already left U.S. airspace. White House officials cited an obscure 18th-century wartime law to justify proceeding with the removals.

Roberts, in an unprecedented move, issued a sharp rebuke: “For over two centuries, impeachment has not been an appropriate response to a judicial decision. The appellate review process exists for precisely this reason.” His statement directly countered Trump’s calls for removing Boasberg, an Obama-appointed judge overseeing the case.

Trump, speaking on Fox News’ The Ingraham Angle, brushed aside Roberts’ remarks, claiming widespread support for impeachment. “Many people have called for his impeachment. I don’t know the judge, but he was appointed by Obama, and he’s making decisions that should be up to the president, not some local judge,” Trump said.

The controversy erupted after Boasberg intervened in the administration’s aggressive immigration enforcement strategy. The judge ruled against the immediate deportation of suspected Venezuelan gang members, citing concerns over due process and potential human rights violations. However, Trump’s team insisted the flights had already departed, rendering the ruling meaningless.

Trump’s allies seized on the moment, intensifying their campaign against the judiciary. Representative Brandon Gill (R-Texas) introduced articles of impeachment against Boasberg, a move that further polarised the debate. Tech billionaire Elon Musk also weighed in, calling impeachment “necessary” to curb judicial overreach.

Roberts’ statement recalled his 2018 clash with Trump when the then-president dismissed judges who ruled against him as politically biased. “We do not have Obama judges or Trump judges,” Roberts said at the time, defending the judiciary’s independence.

As tensions flare, legal experts predict the deportation case will reach the Supreme Court. A senior White House official, speaking to Axios, said, “This is heading to the Supreme Court, and we’re confident we will win.”

The case now represents more than a single deportation order—it is a battleground for presidential authority, judicial independence, and the rule of law. With Roberts’ rare public censure and Trump’s relentless defiance, the stage is set for a legal showdown that could redefine the balance of power in Washington.