Former President Bill Clinton expressed concerns about the Supreme Court’s handling of the Trump administration’s policies during his June 5, 2025 appearance on ABC’s “The View”, warning that Americans should be worried about the courts’ ability to maintain constitutional guardrails.
Clinton appeared alongside author James Patterson to promote their new political thriller “The First Gentleman,” but the conversation turned to contemporary politics when co-host Sunny Hostin questioned him about President Donald Trump’s second-term policies. Hostin raised concerns about Trump’s efforts to dismantle foundational institutions, including intimidating law firms and universities, stifling media, and threatening to impeach judges.
When asked about his confidence in the courts’ ability to hold against Trump’s policies, Clinton revealed his primary concern: “That the courts won’t hold until we have the midterm elections.” He specifically referenced the case of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Maryland father who was deported to an El Salvadorian prison after what the White House called an administrative error.
The Supreme Court had ordered the Trump administration to facilitate Garcia’s return, but Trump declared he could but would not comply with the order. Clinton noted that the administration manufactured evidence suggesting Garcia had MS-13 gang connections, which he did not have, and the man remains imprisoned in El Salvador.
Clinton praised some Supreme Court decisions that have been ignored by the current administration, particularly regarding Garcia’s case where the court determined he was entitled to remain in the United States with a full hearing. He emphasized that people should be worried about this situation regardless of their political affiliations.
Looking toward future elections, Clinton predicted a dramatic shift if Democrats regain presidential power. He suggested there would be a “hallelujah moment” if his party wins the White House in the next election, and the Supreme Court would rediscover the Constitution, Bill of Rights, and constitutional limits. Clinton indicated he would welcome such a development because all officials should operate within established guardrails.
The former president explained that the Constitution’s fundamental purpose was to eliminate royal government and unaccountable governance, ensuring that neither Democrats nor Republicans can operate without accountability. He maintained an optimistic outlook about these potential changes while acknowledging current concerns about institutional integrity.
Clinton also criticized Trump’s implementation of Project 2025, despite the current president’s campaign trail disavowals of the Heritage Foundation policy handbook. He noted that Trump typically follows this pattern of public denial while privately implementing suggested policies, resulting in actions against immigrants and other measures that exceeded some supporters’ expectations.
During the interview, Clinton addressed recent reports about former President Joe Biden’s cognitive abilities, defending Biden’s mental sharpness based on his personal interactions. He stated that whenever he was around Biden, his mind was clear, his judgment was good, and he remained on top of his briefings. However, Clinton questioned White House scheduling decisions that allowed Biden to travel extensively before his crucial June 2024 CNN debate with Trump.
Clinton noted that Biden, at 80 years old, had traveled to Europe twice and California once in the ten days preceding the debate, questioning why such extensive travel was permitted. He acknowledged having many unanswered questions about that period but emphasized the importance of focusing on future rather than past concerns.
The conversation also touched on book bans and library removals, with Clinton and Patterson criticizing recent censorship efforts. Clinton specifically objected to the removal of Maya Angelou’s “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings” from the U.S. Naval Academy library, calling the decision insane given that only adults would access the book there. He took the removal personally due to his friendship with Angelou and his speaking role at her funeral.
Patterson discussed how his young adult series Maximum Ride faced bans in some Florida school libraries in 2023, often based on single objections from individuals who had not read the books. Both authors characterized such blanket banning practices as problematic for educational institutions and democratic discourse.
Clinton’s appearance highlighted ongoing tensions between federal courts and the executive branch, particularly regarding immigration enforcement and constitutional limitations on presidential power. His warnings about judicial independence reflect broader Democratic concerns about institutional preservation during Trump’s second term.
