Politics

Home Politics

Pardoned Capitol Rioter Charged With Threatening To Kill Hakeem Jeffries

6

Authorities arrested a pardoned Capitol rioter last weekend for allegedly threatening to kill House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.

Court documents obtained by CBS News said Christopher Moynihan was arrested Sunday after saying in text messages that he planned to “eliminate” Jeffries when the top House Democrat spoke at an event in New York City on Monday. 

The House Minority Leader spoke at the Economic Club of New York on Monday. 

CBS News reports:

According to a court filing by prosecutors in the New York state criminal case, Moynihan wrote, “Hakeem Jeffries makes a speech in a few days in NYC I cannot allow this terrorist to live.”

Moynihan also allegedly stated: “Even if I am hated, he must be eliminated, I will kill him for the future,” the filing said.

Moynihan faces a felony charge of making a terroristic threat, according to court filings.

Moynihan was among the large group of Capitol riot defendants pardoned by President Trump nine months ago. In a shocking move only hours after returning to the White House, President Trump granted clemency to more than 1,500 other Capitol riot defendants.

Moynihan was found guilty in August 2022 of obstructing an official proceeding, and pleaded guilty to five misdemeanor charges. He was sentenced in February 2023 to 21 months in prison.

Elvert Barnes, CC BY-SA 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

Moynihan’s arrest for allegedly threatening Jeffries was made by New York State Police, according to a statement by the agency that was confirmed by a state official. The investigation was initiated by the FBI, according to state police.

A state police statement said Moynihan was arraigned in local court in Clinton, a town in New York’s Hudson Valley region. He was remanded to the Dutchess County Justice and Transition Center “in lieu of $10,000 cash bail, a $30,000 bond, or an $80,000 partially secured bond.” 

The alleged threat against Jeffries is only the latest threat in part of a rapidly growing wave of threats against legislators and political figures. In a statement last month, Capitol Police said the number of threat investigations in 2025 had already eclipsed 14,000, more than the number of cases in all of 2024.  

NYC Mayoral Candidate Kicks Off Anti-Trump Tour

5
By Bingjiefu He - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0,

New York City’s Socialist mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani is officially launching his “Five Boroughs Against Trump” tour in the Big Apple.

Mamdani kicked off his anti-Trump tour alongside Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.) in Manhattan on Monday morning. He reportedly plans to visit Brooklyn on Tuesday, Staten Island on Wednesday, the Bronx on Thursday and Queens on Friday, Fox News has confirmed. 

The 33-year-old self-described socialist’s tour is a rejection of the Trump administration’s sweeping second-term agenda and his so-called “authoritarian” attack on working New Yorkers, specifically, immigration and health care reform. 

“There is no borough that will be free from Trump’s cruelty,” Mamdani said on Monday. “We will feel the pain of this legislation, whether we are in Manhattan, Brooklyn, the Bronx, Queens or Staten Island, and we will shine a light this week and every week on the costs of this vision that is coming out of Washington, D.C.”

“Donald Trump is waging a full-scale assault on American democracy, dismantling our institutions, attacking our universities and our scientific research base, using government power to serve himself and his donors, and targeting New York City because New Yorkers have always seen him for what he is – a narcissistic, wannabe dictator,” Nadler said during the event on Monday.

Former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo and incumbent Mayor Eric Adams are also running as an independents, and CEO of the Guardian Angels, Curtis Sliwa, is the Republican nominee. 

“Comrade Mamdani is the American people’s worst nightmare,” White House spokeswoman, Abigail Jackson, told Fox News Digital. “His communist policies will crater our economy, increase crime, crowd out Americans with free health care for illegal immigrants, and defund the brave men and women of law enforcement who keep us safe.”

The White House added that “Mamdani’s idea of ‘immigration reform’ is no borders and amnesty for all the violent criminal illegal aliens that Joe Biden released into our country. The American people have repeatedly rejected this Communist agenda and the more Mamdani shares his radical policies, the more the American people will recoil.” 

The New York Times reported last week that Trump recently spoke on the phone with Cuomo and has been speaking with associates about which candidate has the best chance to beat Mamdani in November. Meanwhile, Mamdani has described how his administration would be Trump’s “worst nightmare.”

“We see far too many parallels between Donald Trump and Andrew Cuomo, far too many stories that make clear that both administrations have been characterized by corruption, by a sense of impunity, by an inability of an executive to understand that no means no, a prioritization of the interests of billionaires over working people, and an agenda that is driven by little else beyond the retention and accumulation of power,” Mamdani said Monday. 

Tucker Carlson’s War With Trump Hits New Low: ‘Shut Up, B*tch’

17
Tucker Carlson via Gage Skidmore Flickr

The gloves are officially off.

Just weeks after blasting President Donald Trump’s handling of the Iran conflict, abandoning the Republican Party, and declaring “I’m out,” Tucker Carlson has launched what may be his most personal attack on the president yet.

Appearing on the Jack Neel Podcast on Wednesday, Carlson mocked Trump as a loudmouth who talks tough but lacks the resolve to back it up.

Recalling Trump’s repeated Truth Social warnings that Iran’s regime could be eliminated, Carlson argued the president realized there was “no obvious military solution” and tried to bluff his way through the crisis.

“So he tried to posture his way out of it,” Carlson said, impersonating Trump. “‘We’re going to eliminate you.'”

According to Carlson, the strategy backfired.

“After like the 400th Truth Social, [Iran] reached the same conclusion that everyone on the globe reached, which is this guy’s not strong, he’s weak,” Carlson said. “Strong people don’t brag about how strong they are. They just punch you in the face and end the conversation.”

Carlson then compared Trump to the kind of barroom braggart his late father once warned him about.

“My father was a boxer at one point,” Carlson said, explaining that there are “two types of guys” in a fight.

The first, he said, are the men who puff out their chests and shout, “What’d you say? Say it again!”

“You don’t have to worry about those guys,” Carlson said.

The people to fear, he argued, are the ones who stay quiet until they strike.

“And Trump is very much, ‘What’d you say?!'” Carlson continued before delivering his bluntest insult yet.

“Shut up, b*tch! I don’t take you seriously. No, I’m not being mean. But like, come on.”

The extraordinary remarks mark another dramatic escalation in Carlson’s increasingly bitter feud with the president.

Once one of Trump’s most influential allies, Carlson has spent the past several weeks repeatedly criticizing the administration’s approach to Iran, warning that the conflict betrayed the “America First” agenda that energized millions of Republican voters. (RELATED: Tucker Carlson and MTG Turn on GOP in Stunning MAGA Revolt)

The split has only widened since then.

As GAND previously reported, Carlson recently declared that he could no longer support the Republican Party, saying, “I would not support the Republican Party. There’s no chance I would support the Republican Party.”

He later argued that Republican leaders had become disloyal to American voters, asking, “How could I or any American voter support a political party that’s not loyal to the United States?”

Former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) quickly echoed Carlson’s frustration, writing on social media that she, too, was “done supporting the Republican Party.”

“There is A LOT of us that are absolutely fed up,” Greene wrote. “We are DONE with the America LAST Republican Party.”

Trump, meanwhile, has repeatedly rejected Carlson’s criticism.

During the height of tensions with Iran, the president pushed back against suggestions that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was dictating American policy.

“I call the shots,” Trump said. “I call all the shots.”

Carlson now appears unconvinced.

What began as a disagreement over foreign policy has evolved into one of the most public and personal feuds within the conservative movement.

With each new interview, Carlson’s language has become more pointed—and more difficult for Republicans to ignore.

Report: Democrats Planning Protests During Trump Speech

12
President Donald Trump attends the National Prayer Breakfast, Thursday, February 6, 2025, at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. (Official White House Photo by Molly Riley.)

Trump’s speech tonight could feature some interesting moments…

The White House brushed off reports that far-left Democrats in Congress are discussing plans to go further than ever to protest and even disrupt President Donald Trump’s speech to Congress

Some Democrat lawmakers are advocating for major disruptions at the event, ranging from outright walkouts to using noisemakers to drown out Trump’s speech, Axios reported Tuesday. Some of the more moderate ideas reportedly floated include carrying egg cartons to highlight costs, carrying protest signs, and coordinating outfits.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told Fox News Digital that Trump is prepared for whatever the Democrats might throw at him.

“Democrats behaving like children would be the least surprising news of the night,” Leavitt told Fox News Digital.

According to Fox News, other Democrats discussed plans to storm out of the chamber if Trump crosses certain rhetorical lines, such as discussing gender-confused youths.

“The part that we all agree on is that this is not business as usual and we would like to find a way — productively — to express our outrage,” one lawmaker told Axios.

Democrat leaders reportedly encouraged members in closed-door meetings this week to keep their protests civil, however, with many arguing that major outbursts would only help Trump.

“There are definitely a lot of constituents that really want Democrats to disrupt and there are constituents who feel like that just plays into his hands,” another lawmaker told the outlet.

One Democrat – Rep. Gerry Connolly of Virginia – is not planning to attend at all.

“These are not normal times. The challenges my constituents face demand more than sitting in a chamber I revere, listening as if the person addressing our country is not unleashing chaos and cruelty on their lives. I cannot give audience to that,” he said in a statement Tuesday morning.

Connolly also said he’s not attending “In solidarity with federal workers and contractors, who have been treated with unspeakable disregard and disrespect by a president and an oligarch billionaire who do not value their public service.”

Protests at State of the Union speeches and other major presidential events have grown more common and severe in recent years. While Trump’s Tuesday address is not technically a State of the Union address, it follows essentially the same format.

The president is scheduled to speak before all members of Congress on Tuesday at 9 p.m. EST.

Watch HERE:

Nancy Pelosi Claims Republicans May Hack Voting Machines and Create ‘Fake Count’ in Midterms

Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) is once again sounding alarms ahead of a major election—this time warning that Republicans aligned with Donald Trump could attempt to manipulate voting systems in the 2026 midterms.

In a sit-down interview with MSNBC’s Ali Vitali, the former House Speaker—long one of Trump’s most vocal critics—predicted Democratic success in the upcoming elections but cautioned supporters to stay vigilant against what she suggested could be underhanded GOP tactics.

“There are so many things that you can do to protect the election, and they are being done, whether it’s litigation or legislation or just mobilization, communication, all of that. But in addition to that, we have to be on guard as to what they may try to do to the technology. They may try to creep into the technology and create a false count,” Pelosi said.

Pelosi, who has spent years opposing Trump and his political movement, framed her concerns as part of a broader battle over the integrity of American democracy. She has consistently accused Trump and his allies of undermining democratic norms—particularly following the 2020 election—and her latest comments reflect that ongoing distrust.

Her remarks come as Democrats continue to push back against Republican-led redistricting efforts and the SAVE Act, a GOP-backed bill that would require stricter voter identification. While the legislation has passed the House, it faces steep odds in the Senate.

Pelosi didn’t hold back in her assessment of Republicans’ motivations.

“Pelosi accused Republicans of having ‘no commitment to the rule of law and doing things the appropriate way.’”

Despite her warnings, Pelosi struck a confident tone about Democratic prospects, outlining what she sees as the party’s core mission heading into the midterms.

“We have three purposes now. One is to win the midterm. Two is to make sure the elections are safe. And three, tell people what we will do when we win. That is the mission,” she said.

The longtime Democratic leader also reflected on the party’s future, predicting that a woman will eventually become president—though she does not expect to see it herself. She credited Vice President Kamala Harris with energizing voters during the 2024 election cycle.

“She turned out so many more people than who would have voted,” Pelosi said.

Watch:

GOP Congressman To Retire After Voting For Trump’s Big, Beautiful Bill

2

House Republicans’ majority will soon shrink by one…

On Monday evening, Tennessee Rep. Mark Green announced he plans to retire from Congress in the coming weeks.

Green, who currently serves as the House Homeland Security Committee chairmain, said he is leaving Congress for the private sector after the House votes again on President Donald Trump’s “big, beautiful bill” in the coming weeks, in a statement first obtained by Fox News Digital.

“It is with a heavy heart that I announce my retirement from Congress. Recently, I was offered an opportunity in the private sector that was too exciting to pass up. As a result, today I notified the Speaker and the House of Representatives that I will resign from Congress as soon as the House votes once again on the reconciliation package,” Green said.

He called serving Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District “the honor of a lifetime.”

“They asked me to deliver on the conservative values and principles we all hold dear, and I did my level best to do so. Along the way, we passed historic tax cuts, worked with President Trump to secure the border, and defended innocent life. I am extremely proud of my work as Chairman of the Homeland Security Committee, and want to thank my staff, both in my seventh district office, as well as the professional staff on that committee,” Green said.

Green acknowledged in his statement that he had previously planned to retire in the last Congress, but reversed course. Republicans are expected to maintain their grip on Green’s district which voted for President Donald Trump by more than 20 percentage points over former Vice President Kamala Harris last year.

“Though I planned to retire at the end of the previous Congress, I stayed to ensure that President Trump’s border security measures and priorities make it through Congress,” he said.

“By overseeing the border security portion of the reconciliation package, I have done that. After that, I will retire, and there will be a special election to replace me.”

Republican leaders are hoping to complete consideration of Trump’s massive agenda bill by the Fourth of July or shortly thereafter.

The bill passed the House in a narrow 215-214 vote, and it is now being considered by the Senate. If the Senate changes the bill, as expected, the House will have to approve that version before it hits Trump’s desk.

The bill — titled the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” adopting Trump’s slogan for the measure — extends the tax cuts enacted by the president in 2017; boosts funding for border, deportation, and national defense priorities; imposes reforms, like beefed-up work requirements, on Medicaid that are projected to result in millions of low-income individuals losing health insurance; rolls back green energy tax incentives; and increases the debt limit by $4 trillion, among many other provisions.

It also does away with taxes on tips and overtime — two of Trump’s campaign promises — among other provisions.

Trump-Backed Republican Makes Unexpected Senate Pledge

0
By The White House - https://www.flickr.com/photos/202101414@N05/54325633746/, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=159707159

Republican California gubernatorial nominee Steve Hilton has made an unexpected promise: If elected, he would appoint a Democrat to fill a hypothetical vacancy in one of the state’s U.S. Senate seats.

Hilton, a former Fox News host endorsed by President Donald Trump, made the pledge during an appearance on the liberal “Pod Save America” podcast with host Jon Lovett.

Lovett raised an imagined scenario in which Democratic Sen. Adam Schiff’s seat suddenly became vacant and asked whether Hilton would select another Democrat because California voters had elected Democrats to both Senate seats.

“Yes,” Hilton responded.

When Lovett pressed him to confirm his answer, Hilton said he believed the governor should respect the choice voters had already made.

“I just think you have to honor the vote that people took,” Hilton said, according to the Daily Caller News Foundation.

Hilton’s campaign did not immediately provide the outlet with additional comment.

There is currently no vacancy in California’s Senate delegation, and Schiff has not announced plans to leave office. The Democrat’s current term runs through January 2031, according to the U.S. Senate.

California Law Gives The Governor Broad Authority

Hilton would not be legally required to preserve the departing senator’s party affiliation.

Under California Elections Code Section 10720, the governor may temporarily appoint any qualified California elector to fill a vacant Senate seat until voters choose someone to serve the remainder of the term at a statewide general election.

The statute contains no requirement that the temporary replacement belong to the same political party as the departing senator.

That means a Republican governor could legally appoint a Republican to replace a Democratic senator—or vice versa. Hilton’s promise would therefore represent a voluntary restriction on one of the most consequential appointment powers held by a governor.

For Republicans, the practical consequence is significant. Even if Hilton broke California Democrats’ long hold on the governor’s mansion, his pledge means an unexpected Senate vacancy would not automatically give the GOP an opportunity to alter the balance of power in Washington.

California Has Seen Two Recent Senate Appointments

Senate appointments are more than an obscure constitutional possibility in California. Gov. Gavin Newsom has exercised the power twice since taking office.

In December 2020, Newsom selected then-Secretary of State Alex Padilla to complete Kamala Harris’ Senate term after she was elected vice president. Padilla became California’s first Latino U.S. senator and subsequently won election to a full term.

Newsom used the authority again following Sen. Dianne Feinstein’s death in 2023, appointing EMILY’s List President Laphonza Butler to complete the remainder of Feinstein’s term.

Both appointments preserved Democratic control of the seats.

Hilton’s position applies that same party-preservation principle even though he is campaigning as the Republican alternative to years of Democratic control in Sacramento.

Trump Backed Hilton’s Bid

Trump endorsed Hilton in April, describing him as someone who had watched California decline under its current leadership and arguing that the former television host could help restore the state.

Hilton later advanced from California’s June 2 top-two primary and will face Democrat Xavier Becerra in November. Becerra previously served as California attorney general and as Health and Human Services secretary under President Joe Biden. California’s official primary results confirmed Hilton and Becerra as the two gubernatorial finalists.

Hilton is competing in a state where registered Democrats continue to substantially outnumber Republicans. As of May 18, Democrats accounted for 44.9% of California’s registered voters, compared with 24.96% for Republicans. Another 22.82% registered with no party preference, according to the California secretary of state.

The unusual pledge offers voters a clearer picture of how Hilton would approach the office if he manages to win it: Although he is running with Trump’s endorsement, he says he would not use an unexpected Senate vacancy to overturn the partisan choice California voters previously made.

Trump-Backed Congresswoman Launches Campaign To Challenge Senate Incumbent

3
President Donald Trump gestures to the crowd after delivering remarks at the House GOP Member Retreat, Tuesday, January 6, 2026, at the Donald J. Trump- John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. (Official White House Photo by Daniel Torok)

Rep. Julia Letlow (R-La.) announced Tuesday that she is launching a Republican primary challenge against Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), stepping into the race just days after President Trump publicly encouraged her to pursue a Senate run in Louisiana.

In a two-minute launch ad, Letlow framed her campaign as part of a broader fight to defend conservative priorities in Washington.

“I have fought alongside President Trump to put America first, standing up for our parents, securing our borders, supporting law enforcement, rooting out waste, fraud and abuse that drives up inflation and fighting to fix an education system too focused on woke ideology instead of teaching,” she said.

Letlow argued that Louisiana Republicans want a senator whose votes are predictable when the stakes are highest.

“A state as conservative as ours, we shouldn’t have to wonder how our senator will vote when the pressure’s on,” she continued, without mentioning Cassidy by name. “Louisiana deserves conservative champions, leaders who will not flinch.”

Watch:

Cassidy responds after call from Letlow

Cassidy confirmed the news on X, saying Letlow personally called him earlier Tuesday to share her decision to run.

“She said she respected me and that I had done a good job. I will continue to do a good job when I win re-election,” Cassidy wrote. “I am a conservative who wakes up every morning thinking about how to make Louisiana and the United States a better place to live.”

Cassidy has long presented himself as a policy-focused Republican, emphasizing issues such as fiscal restraint, energy development, and hurricane recovery, while also working within the Senate’s institutional framework—an approach that can play well with establishment GOP voters but has faced skepticism from grassroots conservatives in recent years.

Trump signals support for Letlow

Letlow’s announcement followed Trump’s recent public praise of the congresswoman, where he encouraged her to make the jump to the Senate. In a Truth Social post, Trump described Letlow as a “TOTAL WINNER!” and said she “has ALWAYS delivered for Louisiana.”

That backing immediately reshaped the race, positioning Letlow as the most prominent Republican challenger Cassidy has faced as he seeks another term. In a state where Trump remains highly popular among Republican primary voters, his involvement is likely to be one of the biggest factors in determining the outcome.

A political fight years in the making

Cassidy has been under heavy pressure from many pro-Trump activists since 2021, when he became one of seven Republican senators to vote to convict Trump during his impeachment trial following the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot. The Senate ultimately acquitted Trump, but the vote left lasting consequences for Cassidy inside Louisiana GOP politics.

What Letlow is betting on

Letlow, who has represented Louisiana’s 5th Congressional District since 2021, rose to national attention after winning a special election following the death of her husband, Rep. Luke Letlow, who died from complications related to COVID-19 shortly after being elected.

Since entering Congress, she has worked to build relationships within the Republican conference while maintaining a strong conservative profile—supporting border enforcement policies, opposing Democratic-backed spending packages, and highlighting cultural issues such as parental rights and education.

Her campaign’s early tone signals she plans to run as a Trump-aligned conservative focused on the top issues driving Republican voters in 2025: immigration, inflation, crime, cultural pushback in schools, and government accountability.

New primary rules could raise the stakes

The race will also unfold under Louisiana’s new closed primary process, a change that could have major consequences. With a more Republican-only electorate participating, Cassidy may face an even more conservative and Trump-friendly primary environment than in previous cycles.

That shift could make it harder for Cassidy to rely on crossover voters or independents who might otherwise support an incumbent known for policy work and institutional seniority.

At the same time, a crowded field could still complicate the race. If multiple Republicans enter the primary and divide anti-Cassidy voters, Cassidy could benefit from winning a strong plurality of establishment conservatives, business-oriented Republicans, and voters who prioritize seniority and committee influence.

A high-profile Louisiana showdown

With Letlow officially in the race and Trump already signaling his preference, Louisiana is shaping up to host one of the GOP’s most-watched Senate primaries this cycle. The contest will likely test whether Republican voters prioritize seniority and governing experience—or whether they want a more confrontational, Trump-aligned fighter in the Senate.

For now, both candidates are claiming the conservative mantle. Letlow is promising a senator who will “not flinch,” while Cassidy insists he remains “a conservative” focused on improving life in Louisiana—and says he expects to win.

“She said she respected me and that I had done a good job,” Cassidy wrote. “I will continue to do a good job when I win re-election.”

Steve Bannon Reportedly ‘Laying The Groundwork’ For Presidential Run In 2028

0

According to Axios, former Trump adviser Steve Bannon is “laying the groundwork” for a possible campaign by discussing staffing with allies and setting up a political action committee.

Bannon has also been making appearances at GOP events in key early-primary organizing circles. Axios pointed to his attendance at Colorado and Georgia Republican Party events as a sign he may be building relationships with local activists who play a major role in primary politics.

Still, Axios framed the effort as something bigger than one candidate’s ambitions.

“The MAGA godfather isn’t serious about becoming president — that’s not the point,”
Axios reported.

Instead, the outlet said Bannon has told allies he wants to pressure Republicans to embrace a clearer “America First” vision — including non-interventionist foreign policy, economic populism, and opposition to Big Tech.

Matt Gaetz weighs in

Former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) described Bannon’s political brand in blunt terms, telling Axios:

“The Bannon campaign will merge the foreign policy of Rand Paul with the tax policy of Elizabeth Warren.”

A “nontraditional” campaign model

Axios also reported that Bannon’s associates “envision a nontraditional campaign” that could be run largely from his Capitol Hill podcast studio, avoiding the typical early-state grind of rallies in Iowa and New Hampshire.

Bannon denies it — and says his focus is Trump

Bannon isn’t publicly embracing the idea. He reportedly told Axios the entire notion was:

“bullsh*t,”

and said he’s focused on supporting a third term for Trump — “despite the Constitution’s two-term limit on presidents.”

Meanwhile, Trump is already signaling 2028 succession plans

While Bannon talks about “America First” leverage in 2028, President Donald Trump has also been dropping hints about what he wants the post-Trump Republican bench to look like.

In recent comments reported by multiple outlets, Trump has pointed to Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio as the next generation of Republican leadership — and suggested they could be a dominant force heading into 2028.

Trump’s Voter Citizenship Requirement Blocked By Federal Judge

In a controversial decision that critics say undermines basic electoral integrity, U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly issued a preliminary injunction Thursday blocking the Trump administration from implementing key provisions of its election reform order — including a requirement that individuals provide proof of citizenship when registering to vote in federal elections.

The Trump administration’s order, signed in March, sought to address the widespread public concern over election security by aligning U.S. registration standards with those used by many developed nations — where proof of citizenship is a basic requirement to cast a vote. Yet, in her ruling, Judge Kollar-Kotelly sided with Democratic operatives and partisan groups, granting their request to halt implementation of what should be a commonsense safeguard.

It’s already a felony for noncitizens to vote in federal elections. So why oppose a mechanism to verify that voters are, in fact, eligible citizens? The administration’s proposed policy simply sought to enforce existing law, not change it. But for activists and partisan lawyers, that’s apparently too much.

Critics of the ruling argue that it demonstrates a disturbing disconnect between legal theory and electoral reality. While the plaintiffs claimed the executive order infringes on the “Elections Clause” of the Constitution — which delegates much of the authority over elections to the states — the Trump order targeted the federal voter registration form, which is a product of federal law and administered by a federal agency.

Among the more absurd arguments presented during the case was the suggestion that requiring proof of citizenship would complicate voter registration drives at grocery stores and public venues. In other words, ensuring that only citizens vote is too inconvenient for activists looking to register voters en masse.

But this framing reveals the central issue: voter registration is being treated like a political campaign tactic, not a civic responsibility. If accuracy and integrity are seen as barriers to convenience, something is deeply wrong with the system.

If the courts won’t even allow the federal form to be updated to reflect current law, critics argue, how can Americans have confidence that elections are fair and secure?

Ironically, while liberal groups celebrate the decision as a “victory for voters,” many Americans see it as a victory for loopholes and ambiguity. The same people who insist elections are sacred and democracy is under threat are now openly opposing the most basic eligibility checks used around the world.

Meanwhile, Trump’s other proposed reforms — including tighter mail ballot deadlines and review of voter rolls against immigration databases — were allowed to stand. But with the citizenship requirement blocked, many worry that the core vulnerability in the system remains unaddressed.

When noncitizens can easily register to vote — intentionally or accidentally — and the federal government is barred from checking, who exactly benefits?

This article originally appeared on American Liberty News. The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the positions of Great America News Desk. It is republished with permission.

READ NEXT: President Trump Signs Executive Order Requiring Proof Of Citizenship To Vote In Federal Elections