Trump Wants One of His Lawyers to Be One of His Judges

Republicans in the Senate may be on the verge of their most consequential capitulation to President Trump so far — and I am not talking about the deficit-busting 'big, beautiful bill.'
On Wednesday, when the eyes of the nation were still fixed on the Middle East, the Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing on Trump's nomination of Emil Bove to serve as a judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, which covers cases from Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware and the Virgin Islands.
Bove's nomination is yet another sign that Trump's second term is beginning (yes, it's still only the beginning) very differently from his first. Just as he wants sycophants and yes men staffing his administration, he's now moving toward staffing the judiciary with the same kind of person: judges who will do whatever it takes to curry favor with a president who values fealty above all.
By now, Americans are accustomed to the devolution of Trump's team. Serious people populated the highest levels of the executive branch at the start of Trump's first term, but now some of the most important positions in American government are held by cranks like Kash Patel, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Pete Hegseth.
But as bad as those men are, their influence is ultimately limited — first by Trump himself, who feels completely free to overrule and disregard any decision they make for the sake of his own interests and whims, and second by time itself. Trump's political appointees won't be in American government for long, and while they can inflict lasting damage during their short tenures, the next president can replace them and at least start the process of repair.
Emil Bove, however, would be a problem for a very long time. At 44 years old, he's been nominated for a lifetime appointment to the federal bench. That means he'd long outlast Trump in the halls of American power, and if past performance is any measure of future results, we should prepare for a judge who would do what he deems necessary to accomplish his political objectives — law and morality be damned.
Want all of The Times? Subscribe.

Hashtags

Politics

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Canada and US Trade Talks Resume After Digital Tax Reversal

Newsweek

39 minutes ago

Newsweek

Canada and US Trade Talks Resume After Digital Tax Reversal

Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Canada and the United States have resumed trade negotiations after Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney agreed to rescind the country's digital services tax on U.S. technology companies. The development follows President Donald Trump's announcement on Friday that he was suspending all trade talks with Canada "effective immediately" over the tax policy. Why It Matters Trump's Friday announcement followed Canada's confirmation that it would proceed with its digital services tax on technology giants, most of which are U.S.-based, despite a previous G7 agreement where the Trump administration had agreed to drop a retaliatory tax proposal from congressional consideration. Canada's quick reversal signals the high stakes involved in maintaining trade relationships with the United States, particularly given the countries' deeply integrated economies. What To Know Carney's office confirmed on Sunday that both leaders have agreed to restart negotiations after Canada committed to abandoning the 3 percent levy targeting major U.S. tech giants including Amazon, Google, Meta, Uber, and Airbnb. The tax was scheduled to take effect Monday and would have applied retroactively, creating an estimated $2 billion bill for American companies. The conflict escalated rapidly after Canada's Finance Department confirmed Friday that companies would still be required to make their first digital tax payments Monday, despite ongoing negotiations. The tax targeted revenue generated from Canadian users rather than corporate profits, making it particularly burdensome for technology companies operating internationally. Trump's response was immediate and severe. He announced the suspension of all trade discussions "effective immediately" and threatened to impose new tariffs on Canadian goods within seven days. The president criticized Canada as "a very difficult Country to TRADE with" and described the digital tax as "a direct and blatant attack on our Country." The dispute has unfolded against already strained U.S.-Canada relations. Since taking office in January, Trump has repeatedly criticized Canada and suggested it should become the 51st U.S. state. These tensions contributed to the political environment that led to Justin Trudeau's resignation and Mark Carney's subsequent election on an anti-Trump platform. Canada's decision to rescind the tax came "in anticipation" of reaching a broader trade agreement, according to government officials. What People Are Saying Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said Friday: Canada will "continue to conduct these complex negotiations in the best interests of Canadians. It's a negotiation." President Donald Trump previously said in the Oval Office that he expected Canada to lift the digital services tax: "Economically we have such power over Canada. We'd rather not use it. It's not going to work out well for Canada. They were foolish to do it." Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney (R) greets U.S. President Donald Trump at the official welcome ceremony during the G7 Leaders' Summit on June 16, 2025 in Kananaskis, Alberta. Canada is hosting this year's meeting... Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney (R) greets U.S. President Donald Trump at the official welcome ceremony during the G7 Leaders' Summit on June 16, 2025 in Kananaskis, Alberta. Canada is hosting this year's meeting of the world's seven largest economies. MoreWhat Happens Next With negotiations resuming, both countries will likely focus on addressing broader trade issues beyond the digital services tax. The Trump administration has indicated expectations for additional Canadian concessions, particularly regarding agricultural tariffs that have been a longstanding source of friction. Reporting from the Associated Press contributed to this article.