Can you threaten a lawsuit with a lawsuit? Apparently yes, and Donald Trump has done just that in response to the unanimous 3-0 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruling upholding a lower court’s suspension of his Jan. 27 executive order banning travelers from seven mostly Muslim countries.
“SEE YOU IN COURT” shouted Trump on Twitter in all caps shortly after the ruling was announced. “THE SECURITY OF OUR NATION IS AT STAKE!”
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/829836231802515457
The thing is, Trump literally just saw them in court. And since the case will now go to the Supreme Court of the United States, he’s literally already going to see them in court. Naturally, twitter users pounced on the opportunity to point this out. Tens of thousands of them, in fact.
Responses to Trump’s redundant threat ranged from mocking to incredulous mocking, as Twitter celebrated the ruling, called the President a whiner, or simply questioned his comprehension of what just happened.
Does this dude not know that they literally just saw him in court? https://t.co/lT1tQv323O
— Seth Rogen (@Sethrogen) February 9, 2017
“oh no, not court” —judges
— Casey Johnston (@caseyjohnston) February 10, 2017
The President of the United States employs caps lock to subtweet the judicial branch of the American government.
— Narrated President (@NarratedPOTUS) February 9, 2017
Some saw it as a win for democracy, particularly given Trump’s unprecedented personal attacks on judges he disagrees with.
Congratulations! pic.twitter.com/1xrBgcoYLR
— Mark Hachman (@markhachman) February 9, 2017
But most people just used the occasion to laugh at how angry Trump is about the setback.
Tears off bathrobe. Storms into Bannon's lair.
"Get Judge Judy on the phone." https://t.co/sueCyGgyJ0
— jeremy scahill (@jeremyscahill) February 9, 2017
— AJ Joshi Ⓥ (@AJ) February 9, 2017
https://twitter.com/JordanUhl/status/829836549038694400
ALL CAPITAL LETTERS TWEET! pic.twitter.com/pojD06qaJH
— Erick Fernandez (@ErickFernandez) February 9, 2017
is this a live feed from the oval office? Asking for a friend/country. pic.twitter.com/3Jnrm2pqlZ
— Adam Mordecai (@advodude) February 9, 2017
— Alistair Canlin (@alcanlin) February 9, 2017
https://twitter.com/HunterLJohnson/status/829837421449793538
https://twitter.com/andrewtshaffer/status/829838021717610496
The 9th Circuit’s ruling doesn’t spell the end for Trump’s travel ban, however. The decision could still go to the Supreme Court, and with Neil Gorsuch’s nomination to the Supreme Court pending, it’s possible Trump could push for him to be confirmed by the U.S. Senate as soon as possible.
The ruling is also preliminary — it’s not a complete ruling on the constitutionality, but rather a ruling on Robart’s decision to suspend the ban while cases against it are pending. Both the states of Washington and Minnesota have challenged the ban in court.
Meanwhile, the Twitter account of the Washington Attorney General, which challenged the ban, had an all-caps take of its own.
DENIED. UNANIMOUS. PER CURIUM.
— Attorney General Bob Ferguson (@AGOWA) February 9, 2017