Fans of Donald Trump have turned against one of the justices he placed on the US Supreme Court, suggesting she has not been loyal enough to the president.
Staunch conservative Justice Amy Coney Barrett was appointed to America’s highest court by Mr Trump in 2020 and has voted for major rulings, including striking down abortion rights.
But that does not seem to be enough for some of the MAGA crowd. There has been anger from right-wing personalities following a couple of recent 5-4 rulings in which she has been the deciding vote against Mr Trump’s agenda.
Justice Barrett was among the justices who rejected the Trump administration’s attempt to avoid paying federal contractors as part of the gutting of the US’ foreign aid programme.
“She is a rattled law professor with her head up her a**,” said Mike Davis, who once worked for another Supreme Court justice, describing Justice Barrett as “weak and timid”.
“DEI judge,” influencer Jack Posobiec complained on X, suggesting that she was a “diversity, equity and inclusion” hire – presumably because she is a woman.
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Their criticism of her comes despite Justice Barrett consistently voting in favour of conservative cases, from ending the landmark Roe v Wade abortion rights to expanding gun rights.
“It seems to me there is this impulse where personal loyalty to Donald Trump in an unquestioned way is seen as a requirement for a sitting justice on the Supreme Court,” Anthony Kreis, a professor at Georgia State University College of Law, said.
“It doesn’t matter how conservative that person might be,” he added.
Justice Barrett has spoken previously about how her appointment to the Supreme Court – and the security concerns that go with it – has affected her and her family.
The White House did not respond to a message from Sky News’ US partner outlet NBC News seeking comment.
