US Chief Justice rebukes Trump over call for judge's impeachment

He says the appellate review process exists for any disagreement with court decisions

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WASHINGTON - Mr. Donald Trump's rumbling conflict with the judiciary burst into open confrontation on March 18 as US Chief Justice John Roberts issued a rare public rebuke of a US president over his call for the impeachment of a federal judge.

"For more than two centuries, it has been established that impeachment is not an appropriate response to disagreement concerning a judicial decision," the Supreme Court chief said in a brief statement.

"The normal appellate review process exists for that purpose."

Justice Roberts' extraordinary rebuke of the president came after Mr. Trump called for the impeachment of District Judge James Boasberg, who ordered the suspension over the weekend of deportation flights of alleged illegal migrants.

The White House has been sharply critical of district courts that have blocked the president's executive actions. However, this was the first time Mr. Trump has personally called for a judge's impeachment since he took office in January, saying that Judge Boasberg was a "radical left lunatic of a judge, a troublemaker and agitator who was sadly appointed by Barack Hussein Obama".

"This judge, like many of the crooked judges I am forced to appear before, should be impeached!!!," he said in a post on his Truth Social platform earlier on March 18.