Supreme Court’s 5-4 Ruling Clears Path for Trump’s Sentencing, Sparks Widespread Reactions
Trump greets supporters during a campaign event at the Rocky Mount Event Center. (Image Source: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
Political observers and social media erupted Thursday evening after the Supreme Court refused to intervene in President-elect Donald Trump’s New York hush-money case, paving the way for his sentencing on Friday.
Despite the Supreme Court’s 6-3 conservative supermajority, solidified during Trump’s presidency with the appointment of three justices, the Court issued a narrow 5-4 decision rejecting Trump’s emergency request to block the sentencing. This marked a significant moment in Trump’s legal battles, drawing intense reactions across platforms.
“In 5-4 non-merits vote, the Supreme Court decides barely that the rule of law applies to Donald Trump,” wrote Georgia State University constitutional law professor Anthony Michael Kreis on X (formerly Twitter). Artist Art Candee celebrated the ruling, posting, “Oh snap!!!!! The Supreme Court denied Donald Trump’s motion to stay his sentencing in his criminal hush money case tomorrow.
Alito, Thomas, Gorsuch, and Kavanaugh dissented. Rare SCOTUS win!” Legal analyst and former federal prosecutor Neama Rahmani emphasized the broader implications of the decision. “Chief Justice John Roberts and Trump appointee Justice Amy Coney Barrett siding with the court’s three liberal justices cements their legacy as the more moderate, swing votes on the Court,” Rahmani wrote on X.
“The request was all about timing. Trump still gets to appeal, but he will have to do so as a convicted felon like any other criminal defendant. Trump, of course, wanted to appeal before the judgment of conviction was entered.”
For Politico legal reporter Erica Orden, the ruling signaled a dead end for Trump’s immediate efforts to halt proceedings. “Trump’s now-rejected request was his ‘last hope to cancel the proceeding,’” Orden noted on X.
Reactions among Trump’s supporters were predictably critical. Fox News host Laura Ingraham expressed her discontent as the news broke live on her show. “Preposterous!” she exclaimed. “I think the court got this one wrong. I don’t say it just because I support President Trump. I do support the presidency though.”
The ruling ensures that Trump’s sentencing will proceed as planned, with legal experts highlighting its significance in reinforcing judicial impartiality. The Court’s decision underscores that even a former president is subject to the same legal standards as any other citizen, marking a critical juncture in Trump’s ongoing legal challenges.
