Elena Kagan denies that Supreme Court is Trump's 'puppet,' claiming they've checked him 'on some big issues'

Key Points:

• Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan emphasized that the court has occasionally checked the executive branch, despite often siding with the Trump administration on major cases like immigration and regulatory authority.
• Kagan acknowledged the court's conservative leanings but rejected the notion that it acts as a "puppet" for the current administration, citing rulings against Trump's tariffs and birthright citizenship efforts.
• Public trust in the Supreme Court is at historic lows, with concerns about political motivations among justices; Chief Justice John Roberts and Kagan have both pushed back against the perception of the court as a political actor.
• Kagan supports appointing a committee of retired judges to enforce the Supreme Court’s ethics code, though enforcement methods remain unresolved among the justices.
• Reflecting on Trump attending oral arguments on birthright citizenship, Kagan described his presence as a "non-event," noting the absence of fanfare and that Trump left midway through the proceedings.