Can a President Defy the Supreme Court?

February 25, 2026

What would happen if a President chose to disregard a Supreme Court ruling?

The Court was never designed to enforce its own decisions. It has no army, no budget, and no administrative machinery. Its judgments carry weight because our constitutional system — and our political culture — give them weight.

For more than two centuries, the United States has operated on a shared understanding: the judiciary interprets the law, and the other branches respect that interpretation, even when it is politically inconvenient.

That norm has not been perfect. There have been isolated moments in American history when executive officials resisted court rulings. But across 237 years of constitutional government, those instances are vastly outnumbered by consistent presidential compliance.

Why?

Because the rule of law in America is not maintained by force alone. It is sustained by institutional loyalty, public expectation, and the recognition that ignoring judicial authority carries serious political and legal consequences.

More importantly, it is sustained by a deeply rooted belief that legal limits apply to everyone — including those who hold the highest offices.

In the end, the strength of the Supreme Court does not lie in enforcement power.

It lies in our collective commitment to live under law.

And in a republic built on that principle, no one — not even a President — stands above it.