Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Baitball Blogger

(52,355 posts)
Wed Apr 1, 2026, 07:27 AM Wednesday

About Trump sitting in the Supreme Court hearing

What he’s doing is what I call toxic hovering. The good ole boys use it to great effect. Here, locally, when there was a community scandal which I was vocal about, I experienced it. I would go to a public place like a book store or restaurant and I would notice someone I didn’t even know staring too hard. Within 15 minutes my neighbor, who was heavily invested in keeping me quiet would suddenly show up and glare at me. The scariest was when he sat down across from me at a large table. The glaring left no doubt why he was there. It’s an intimidation tactic:

82 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
About Trump sitting in the Supreme Court hearing (Original Post) Baitball Blogger Wednesday OP
Meh, sleeping doesn't intimidate. gab13by13 Wednesday #1
Agreed. But wearing a shit full diaper is. Ray Bruns Wednesday #24
Yup, based on his history, courtrooms seem to make all kinds of things escape from his ass. Marie Marie Wednesday #61
True, but rump don't scare me...he's just a demented loudmouthed fool...he can't fire the Supremes (or Gladys Knight)... wcmagumba Wednesday #2
I wouldn't doubt for a second that he has information on the conservative Supremes. Baitball Blogger Wednesday #14
I'd say no "probably' about it. calimary Wednesday #29
Almost irrelevant as our system makes impeachment nearly impossible. IbogaProject Wednesday #59
Yes, it's glaringly obvious that's what he's doing. GoCubsGo Wednesday #3
Right. He imagines it will work at the court, but seems likelier to backfire. Easterncedar Wednesday #4
Still one of my all-time "if only" moments. TheRickles Wednesday #10
No. Had she done that, the spin would have been, "Look. She can't handle niyad Wednesday #30
You're right MustLoveBeagles Wednesday #35
I'm with you MurrayDelph Wednesday #31
Just a stern "Return to your podium, Donald!" would have sufficed. CTyankee Wednesday #65
Indeed! It was one of those....... MyOwnPeace Wednesday #73
What if she had paused to ask for air freshener? wnylib Wednesday #74
That was the responsiblity of the voters. 33taw Wednesday #37
Agree orangecrush Wednesday #45
When Trump dissed Jeb Bush's wife, if Bush had spun around, went over and got all up in Trump's grill, and flashman13 Wednesday #47
I would have hoped she would turn around and say, colorado_ufo Wednesday #62
The best would have been for her popsdenver Wednesday #76
Lets hope a few will turn on him. mucifer Wednesday #5
It's more likely they'll cave. SergeStorms Wednesday #13
Hard to intimidate someone with a lifetime appointment. onenote Wednesday #66
If John Roberts had a conscience, he would be mortified. He doesn't. Chasstev365 Wednesday #6
Toxic hovering is what Trump did to Clinton on the stage during the debate CousinIT Wednesday #7
That's immediately what came to my mind, too. evolves Wednesday #72
He'll probably crap himself during the proceedings like he did at his own trial... johnnyplankton Wednesday #8
Depends (pun not intended) on if the stink from a random fart or loaded diaper reaches the bench. 3Hotdogs Wednesday #17
;-{) Side-Eye Goonch Wednesday #9
Like a scene out of The Godfather movie. Irish_Dem Wednesday #11
Tony Soprano got a lot of mileage out of this one FakeNoose Wednesday #25
LOL, he Vincenzo Pentangeli-ed the Supreme Court Prairie Gates Wednesday #52
Yep this is the scene. Irish_Dem Wednesday #56
He tried a variation of it during a debate with Hillary Ilsa Wednesday #12
Epstein chicago guy Wednesday #15
People have tried that with me: PCIntern Wednesday #16
Same orangecrush Wednesday #44
Yes! Straw Man Wednesday #60
I usually leave the mother fucker part off though. littlemissmartypants Yesterday #81
Unfortunately, camera not allowed in the court. But imagine a 6:00 news video of him falling asleep 3Hotdogs Wednesday #18
He was originally going to join the Jan. 6 insurrectionists at the Capitol. eShirl Wednesday #19
He absolutely can and does dominate SCOTUS. ananda Wednesday #22
You've come close to touching on my first feeling slightlv Wednesday #53
Yes! This is what he did with the debate evemac Wednesday #20
I agree. He's going to sit there and cast the "evil eye" on his six fascist puppets. MLWR Wednesday #21
No he's not. He will be asleep in ten minutes. Ray Bruns Wednesday #26
" He will be asleep in ten minutes. " AverageOldGuy Wednesday #34
Exactly Farmer-Rick Wednesday #36
This was my first thought. TNNurse Wednesday #23
Obviously he wants to intimidate them. Ocelot II Wednesday #27
Some of the Supremes might cave Seinan Sensei Wednesday #75
One thing's for sure he's gonna stink up the chamber Blue Owl Wednesday #28
He wants to see what he paid for - the judges "earning" their positions due to his "largess". Wonder Why Wednesday #32
9:40 AM EDST Trump enroute to SCOTUS AverageOldGuy Wednesday #33
Or will he make a big stink when he is too late? CapnSteve Wednesday #38
I doubt they will remove him, but they won't hold the hearing for him. I think he is intentionally cutting it close by 33taw Wednesday #40
This is unprecedented MustLoveBeagles Wednesday #39
It's a mobster move. Wonder how Uncle Thomas will react if he wants to allegorical oracle Wednesday #41
TV Series The Wire bmichaelh Wednesday #42
It's exactly what he did to Hillary orangecrush Wednesday #43
OMG did I HATE him for that! calimary Yesterday #79
It was optics orangecrush 21 hrs ago #82
He's there to issue an executive odor, right on the spot. usonian Wednesday #46
His presence is an April Fools Day joke. milestogo Wednesday #48
This should be one of those 15 minute decisions. bluestarone Wednesday #49
I'll never understand Scubamatt Wednesday #50
Some of 'em are still stuck trying to figure it out. calimary Yesterday #80
Zzzzzzzzzzz . . . . no_hypocrisy Wednesday #51
MaddowBlog-Trump's attendance at the Supreme Court's birthright citizenship arguments won't help his case LetMyPeopleVote Wednesday #54
"...Piggy told reporters on Tuesday MorbidButterflyTat Wednesday #64
I agree with this analysis. ShazzieB Wednesday #68
Kiddie pool Maj. Dude Wednesday #55
He is use to be in a court room Smackdown2019 Wednesday #57
KKK tactics. Mblaze Wednesday #58
I agree. I think it will either backfire on him or it won't make a difference. LeftInTX Wednesday #63
I doubt they are intimidated in the slightest by the sleepy Orange Presence. Martin68 Wednesday #67
Yeah, of course, but it's not going to work. themaguffin Wednesday #69
He's not intimidating anymore. marble falls Wednesday #70
He's been doing it his whole life. On display with HRC debates. He's a fucking criminal mob boss. Period. Evolve Dammit Wednesday #71
One of his favorite moves, as we've seen in the past. (EDIT: As others have already mentioned!) Grokenstein Wednesday #77
He left suddenly because his ass felt too wet... Jack Valentino Wednesday #78

Marie Marie

(11,318 posts)
61. Yup, based on his history, courtrooms seem to make all kinds of things escape from his ass.
Wed Apr 1, 2026, 02:46 PM
Wednesday

And it is rumored that the smell is deadly. Alina Habba seems to enjoy it though - everyday she was right there beside her hero, facial pout posing every time she saw the cameras on her. Now she moved close to him in FL. She seems to wear his scent like fine perfume.

wcmagumba

(6,194 posts)
2. True, but rump don't scare me...he's just a demented loudmouthed fool...he can't fire the Supremes (or Gladys Knight)...
Wed Apr 1, 2026, 07:41 AM
Wednesday

or the Pips..."pip pip and cheerio, guv'nor"...

Baitball Blogger

(52,355 posts)
14. I wouldn't doubt for a second that he has information on the conservative Supremes.
Wed Apr 1, 2026, 08:30 AM
Wednesday

On Kavanaugh he probably has all that information to confirm he was a sexual predator.

On Clarence Thomas, probably all kinds of information regarding the acceptance of bribes.

On the others, could be information on family members.

He's the president who wasn't shy about taking classified documents to Mar o Lago. Some of that information probably involved blackmail material.

IbogaProject

(5,916 posts)
59. Almost irrelevant as our system makes impeachment nearly impossible.
Wed Apr 1, 2026, 01:55 PM
Wednesday

Getting a majority vote through congress and then 67 votes in the senate is a tough endeavor with our current polarization. Now Cheetolini may think he can blackmail those justices but it doesn't mean they will even blink let alone rule in any way but in support of our wealthy elites.

GoCubsGo

(34,919 posts)
3. Yes, it's glaringly obvious that's what he's doing.
Wed Apr 1, 2026, 07:41 AM
Wednesday

And unfortunately, most of the people he'll be glaring at are abject cowards. It's a shame they won't glare right back at him.

Easterncedar

(6,280 posts)
4. Right. He imagines it will work at the court, but seems likelier to backfire.
Wed Apr 1, 2026, 07:46 AM
Wednesday

But it’s an old move. Remember when he stalked Hillary on the debate stage? What a vile thing he is.

TheRickles

(3,389 posts)
10. Still one of my all-time "if only" moments.
Wed Apr 1, 2026, 08:08 AM
Wednesday

If she had turned around to face him and said "What are you doing?", we wouldn't be here now.

niyad

(132,473 posts)
30. No. Had she done that, the spin would have been, "Look. She can't handle
Wed Apr 1, 2026, 09:31 AM
Wednesday

the pressure. Weak and afraid." Notice how little criticism or calling out there was by our gutless, misogynist society.

CTyankee

(68,213 posts)
65. Just a stern "Return to your podium, Donald!" would have sufficed.
Wed Apr 1, 2026, 03:20 PM
Wednesday

and then, "We can start when he is back in his podium, not before."

MyOwnPeace

(17,567 posts)
73. Indeed! It was one of those.......
Wed Apr 1, 2026, 05:37 PM
Wednesday

'IF ONLY' moments - you know, after you're driving home after having dinner with a MAGA (yeah, I know - why would one even do that!) - and you think of 4-5-6 things you wish you would have said, but DAYUM, we need to be 'civil' - you know - the 'they go low - we go high' thing.
I truly don't think it would have mattered. If she attacks him, no matter how correct or brilliant it would have been - the MAGAs would have been all over it - and there's no sign that anybody would have supported her for it anyhow.....
She is brilliant - she didn't have a chance............
Our loss.

flashman13

(2,407 posts)
47. When Trump dissed Jeb Bush's wife, if Bush had spun around, went over and got all up in Trump's grill, and
Wed Apr 1, 2026, 11:48 AM
Wednesday

told him, "You can say anything about me, but don't you dare insult my wife or I'll whip your fat ass", he would have been the nominee and possibly President.

colorado_ufo

(6,252 posts)
62. I would have hoped she would turn around and say,
Wed Apr 1, 2026, 02:47 PM
Wednesday

"Your place is over there."

If she got called a bitch, she should have doubled down!

popsdenver

(2,313 posts)
76. The best would have been for her
Wed Apr 1, 2026, 09:14 PM
Wednesday

to turn to the moderator and say: "Would you please ask Mr. Trump to quit STALKING me around the stage"

The word STALKER is a serious dog whistle to women in America......

SergeStorms

(20,599 posts)
13. It's more likely they'll cave.
Wed Apr 1, 2026, 08:21 AM
Wednesday

It'd be like John Gotti staring at one particular juror for his entire trial.

Trump thinks he's a mob boss and acts like one. Intimidation is his forte. He'll release his flying MAGAts on any justice who doesn't give him what he wants.

onenote

(46,147 posts)
66. Hard to intimidate someone with a lifetime appointment.
Wed Apr 1, 2026, 03:47 PM
Wednesday

But, out of curiosity, what do you think the vote will be in the case? I'm predicting 8-1 on the outcome, but with concurring opinions offering different rationales for the result. Outside chance of it being 7-2 with Alito and Thomas dissenting, or 9-0 with Alito and Thomas offering very narrow grounds for decision.

CousinIT

(12,543 posts)
7. Toxic hovering is what Trump did to Clinton on the stage during the debate
Wed Apr 1, 2026, 08:01 AM
Wednesday

before the 2016 election.

evolves

(5,839 posts)
72. That's immediately what came to my mind, too.
Wed Apr 1, 2026, 05:33 PM
Wednesday

He was WAY out of his depth back then. He was way out of his depth today, too.

johnnyplankton

(636 posts)
8. He'll probably crap himself during the proceedings like he did at his own trial...
Wed Apr 1, 2026, 08:07 AM
Wednesday

Last edited Wed Apr 1, 2026, 09:33 AM - Edit history (1)

But I don't think that will sway the justices...

3Hotdogs

(15,370 posts)
17. Depends (pun not intended) on if the stink from a random fart or loaded diaper reaches the bench.
Wed Apr 1, 2026, 08:45 AM
Wednesday

Ilsa

(64,381 posts)
12. He tried a variation of it during a debate with Hillary
Wed Apr 1, 2026, 08:13 AM
Wednesday

Clinton in 2016. He wandered around the stage behind her while she was answering a debate question.

More sociopathic, bullying behavior. I wonder if he will interrupt the hearing.

chicago guy

(48 posts)
15. Epstein
Wed Apr 1, 2026, 08:43 AM
Wednesday

I could understand trying to play mind games in a lower court, but this group of fools can not be toyed with they are there with a life sentence
:

littlemissmartypants

(33,666 posts)
81. I usually leave the mother fucker part off though.
Thu Apr 2, 2026, 01:28 AM
Yesterday

I also move in. I figure that I'm either going to be seen as sincere or crazy. Crazy is almost always scary to others.

If they don't back off, I usually follow up with an "Are you OK?" Then possibly if necessary...

"This man needs some help. Can we get some help, please?" Usually loud enough to call attention to the foolishness and embarrass them.

I don't usually have to go that far. But I'm ready.

Crazy usually works.

3Hotdogs

(15,370 posts)
18. Unfortunately, camera not allowed in the court. But imagine a 6:00 news video of him falling asleep
Wed Apr 1, 2026, 08:47 AM
Wednesday

during the oral arguments.

eShirl

(20,265 posts)
19. He was originally going to join the Jan. 6 insurrectionists at the Capitol.
Wed Apr 1, 2026, 08:47 AM
Wednesday

He thinks he can dominate a co-equal branch of government.

slightlv

(7,790 posts)
53. You've come close to touching on my first feeling
Wed Apr 1, 2026, 12:26 PM
Wednesday

about his being there. To me, this is not only an intimidation technique, but it's a *one branch* of the government interfering and intimidating a *separate and equal branch* of government. Has there ever been another instance where the president sat in on SCOTUS hearings? Somebody give that kid a binky, and put him to bed with a clean diaper!

AverageOldGuy

(3,849 posts)
34. " He will be asleep in ten minutes. "
Wed Apr 1, 2026, 09:49 AM
Wednesday

Yours is nominated as Comment of the Week!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My daughter is one of those high-powered DC attorneys, member of the SCOTUS bar, has sat 2d or 3d chair for a couple of SCOTUS arguments. She says it's so damn quiet in there much of the audience has trouble staying awake.

The "arguments" are not exactly scintillating theater that brings the audience to their feet in cheers.

Farmer-Rick

(12,668 posts)
36. Exactly
Wed Apr 1, 2026, 09:51 AM
Wednesday

He will glare and make faces.... maybe even attempt to interject.....in the first 10 minutes. Then when he finds out he can't ramble and speechify, he'll cross his arms and fall asleep.

The falling asleep takes away from the intimidation. It makes him look like a dottering old fool, NOT a mobster in a TV role.

Ocelot II

(130,558 posts)
27. Obviously he wants to intimidate them.
Wed Apr 1, 2026, 09:10 AM
Wednesday

But it's likely to backfire. They'll know that's what he's doing and they won't like it (with the possible exceptions of Alito and Thomas, who always roll over for him anyhow). They weren't afraid to rule against him on his pet project, tariffs, and I doubt that seeing his glowering ugly orange face in the courtroom will influence them in his favor. It might even piss them off and remind them (or most of them) that he's not their boss, however much he wants them to believe it. I don't think even Alito and Thomas think he's their boss; they're just fascists all by themselves.

Seinan Sensei

(1,552 posts)
75. Some of the Supremes might cave
Wed Apr 1, 2026, 05:49 PM
Wednesday

Because he has the goods on them
But the Supremes, in turn, surely have the goods on HIM.
They know all that we know. Plus some.
He will do whatever it takes to stay in power.
They will do whatever it takes to stay on the bench.
Standoff. Showdown. Stalemate.

AverageOldGuy

(3,849 posts)
33. 9:40 AM EDST Trump enroute to SCOTUS
Wed Apr 1, 2026, 09:47 AM
Wednesday

They close the doors at 9:55, hearing starts at 10:00.

If he disrupts the hearing will they remove him from the room?

33taw

(3,344 posts)
40. I doubt they will remove him, but they won't hold the hearing for him. I think he is intentionally cutting it close by
Wed Apr 1, 2026, 10:03 AM
Wednesday

leaving at 9:40. On edit: He has entered the courtroom.

allegorical oracle

(6,481 posts)
41. It's a mobster move. Wonder how Uncle Thomas will react if he wants to
Wed Apr 1, 2026, 10:12 AM
Wednesday

support birthright citizenship -- with The Don sitting there.

bmichaelh

(1,186 posts)
42. TV Series The Wire
Wed Apr 1, 2026, 10:24 AM
Wednesday

This happened in the TV Series The Wire.

High ranking members of the criminal organization are in the courtroom during a murder trial.

The witness feel intimidated.

Trump is trying to intimidate the justices, especially the ones he appointed.

Thomas does not need intimidation; he will vote anyway Trump wants him to.

calimary

(90,067 posts)
79. OMG did I HATE him for that!
Thu Apr 2, 2026, 01:06 AM
Yesterday

I wish she had turned to him and said “why don’t you SIT DOWN AND WAIT YOUR TURN TO TALK?”

It was such a blatant effort to unsettle her! If I didn’t already hate him (which I DID), that would have been enough to get me there. I saw what you did, donald, and I knew what you were trying to do (aka mind-fucking), and I wasn’t fooled for a nanosecond.

Or, maybe SHE should have slithered around behind him when HE was making some point. (Here. Have some mind-fucking back atcha, Chucko.) The movement grabs the eye.

Scubamatt

(307 posts)
50. I'll never understand
Wed Apr 1, 2026, 12:20 PM
Wednesday

how/why it has taken so long for the media and the public to figure the orange td out. All of this is standard mafia/bully tactics.

calimary

(90,067 posts)
80. Some of 'em are still stuck trying to figure it out.
Thu Apr 2, 2026, 01:22 AM
Yesterday

I don’t know why. It’s as bald-faced an intimidation tactic as I’ve ever seen. Sure seemed pretty doggone obvious to me.

LetMyPeopleVote

(179,906 posts)
54. MaddowBlog-Trump's attendance at the Supreme Court's birthright citizenship arguments won't help his case
Wed Apr 1, 2026, 12:38 PM
Wednesday

If his radical gambit is likely to lose, why bother with an unprecedented presidential appearance at the high court? There are two prevailing explanations.



https://www.ms.now/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/why-trump-attending-supreme-court-birthright-citizenship-arguments

Not surprisingly, Trump’s radical gambit has struggled in the courts, which relied on generations’ worth of legal precedent, but the Supreme Court nevertheless agreed to hear the case. Ahead of Wednesday’s oral arguments, the president decided to do something his predecessors never did. MS NOW reported:

President Donald Trump will be watching oral arguments today as the Supreme Court weighs whether the president holds the power to end birthright citizenship. […]

Trump’s presence at the court is significant. He will be the first known sitting U.S. president to attend oral arguments before the high court, according to the Supreme Court Historical Society.


By way of explanation, the president told reporters on Tuesday that he intended to sit in on oral arguments “because I have listened to this argument for so long.” (A day later, I’m not entirely sure what that was supposed to mean.)....

So why bother with an unprecedented presidential appearance at the high court? There are two prevailing explanations — though they’re not mutually exclusive, and both could be true.

The first is that this is part of a ham-fisted intimidation campaign: By literally showing up in person, it’s possible that Trump, who appointed a third of the court’s justices, thinks he can apply extra pressure to those who will decide the case’s fate.

If this is the goal, the president is likely to be disappointed. Unlike congressional Republicans, justices don’t want to be seen as obedient White House loyalists, and it’s easy to imagine Trump’s stunt backfiring.

The other theory is that Trump recognizes the fact that the Supreme Court won’t let him rewrite constitutional law through an executive order, so he went to oral arguments as a political tactic intended to deliver an anti-immigrant message — which the White House sees as more politically salient than other issues that are dominating the public conversation, such as the war with Iran and high gas prices.

“The big thing for Trump is to be seen putting up a fight,” Politico noted. “This policy — always a Hail Mary from a legal perspective — is as much about signaling to the president’s base as it is a serious attempt to change the law.”

Whatever the explanation, if the president expects his order to be upheld, he probably ought to start lowering his expectations. Watch this space.

MorbidButterflyTat

(4,520 posts)
64. "...Piggy told reporters on Tuesday
Wed Apr 1, 2026, 02:58 PM
Wednesday

that he intended to sit in on oral arguments 'because I have listened to this argument for so long.'”

This imbecile doesn't even know what the Supreme Court hearings are for. He thinks oral arguments are literally arguing! Maybe why Piggy's dumbshit mouthpiece is yelling!

ShazzieB

(22,604 posts)
68. I agree with this analysis.
Wed Apr 1, 2026, 04:33 PM
Wednesday

The idea that he can intimidate the justices is just silly, imo. Sure, he would like to bs able to dothat, and he might THINK he can, but they all know they have lifetime appointments and there's nothing he can really do to them. This part, however, makes a lot of sense to me:

The other theory is that Trump recognizes the fact that the Supreme Court won’t let him rewrite constitutional law through an executive order, so he went to oral arguments as a political tactic intended to deliver an anti-immigrant message — which the White House sees as more politically salient than other issues that are dominating the public conversation, such as the war with Iran and high gas prices.

“The big thing for Trump is to be seen putting up a fight,” Politico noted. “This policy — always a Hail Mary from a legal perspective — is as much about signaling to the president’s base as it is a serious attempt to change the law.”


I agree that Schlump is not going to get the decision he wants from the Supremes. Whether this helps him with his base is another matter. But either way, a president cannot strike down a constitutional amendment with an executive order. The can of worms that would open is one I doubt even the Gruesome Twosome (Thomas and Alito) would want to open.

I wouldn't be surprised if the ruling is 9-0 against him.

Maj. Dude

(48 posts)
55. Kiddie pool
Wed Apr 1, 2026, 12:47 PM
Wednesday

They should just park his ass in the corner, in a kiddie pool and get him a happy meal and exclude the catsup.

LeftInTX

(34,314 posts)
63. I agree. I think it will either backfire on him or it won't make a difference.
Wed Apr 1, 2026, 02:50 PM
Wednesday

This is the first time a president has done this and it's unprecidented.
They don't like power plays

Evolve Dammit

(21,779 posts)
71. He's been doing it his whole life. On display with HRC debates. He's a fucking criminal mob boss. Period.
Wed Apr 1, 2026, 05:33 PM
Wednesday

Grokenstein

(6,357 posts)
77. One of his favorite moves, as we've seen in the past. (EDIT: As others have already mentioned!)
Wed Apr 1, 2026, 10:41 PM
Wednesday

Remember the debate with Hillary Clinton in which he paced back and forth behind her during her responses? "Rawr, I'm a scary lion! Pay attention to me!"

Or the time he posed for a picture holding a baseball bat with both hands, giving side-eye to Mike Pence like he'd just masturbated to Al Capone (Robert De Niro, ironically) committing murder in The Untouchables?

But like his grab-and-yank handshake, none of this schoolyard crap is working for the spray-tan pig-man anymore.

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»About Trump sitting in th...