Former President Bill Clinton expressed significant concerns about the Supreme Court’s ability to constrain the Trump administration’s actions during his appearance on ABC’s “The View” on June 5, 2025. Clinton warned viewers that “the courts won’t hold until we have the midterm elections,” highlighting his primary worry about the current political landscape.
The former president appeared on the daytime talk show alongside author James Patterson to promote their collaborative political thriller “The First Gentleman.” However, the conversation quickly turned to contemporary politics when host Sunny Hostin questioned Clinton about President Trump’s approach to institutional governance, including his conflicts with law firms, universities, media outlets, and the judicial system.
Clinton specifically referenced the case of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Maryland father who was deported to an El Salvadorian prison following what the White House characterized as an administrative error. Despite a Supreme Court order directing the administration to facilitate Garcia’s return, Trump declared he could comply but would not do so. Garcia was recently returned to the U.S. but was locked up and is facing criminal charges for allegedly transporting undocumented migrants within the U.S. He made his first court appearance on Friday evening, June 6, in the Middle District of Tennessee, responding in Spanish with “Yes, I understand” when U.S. Magistrate Judge Barbara Holmes asked if he understood the charges against him.
Judge Holmes scheduled a hearing for June 13, during which Abrego Garcia will be formally arraigned and the judge will address the government’s request to keep him in pre-trial detention, arguing that he “poses a danger to the community and a serious risk of flight.” Until next week’s hearing, he will remain in federal custody in Tennessee.
Clinton criticized the administration’s disregard for judicial decisions, pointing out that the Supreme Court had made what he considered appropriate rulings that were subsequently ignored. Clinton explained that the administration had manufactured evidence suggesting Garcia had MS-13 affiliations, which he emphasized was false, yet the individual remains detained.
Clinton predicted a dramatic shift in institutional behavior should Democrats regain presidential power in future elections. He suggested there would be a “hallelujah moment” if the Democratic Party wins the White House in the next election, anticipating that the Supreme Court would then rediscover constitutional principles, the Bill of Rights, and governmental limits. Clinton expressed that he would welcome such a development, emphasizing that all political actors should operate within established guardrails.
The former president articulated his belief that the Constitution’s fundamental purpose was to eliminate royal governance and unaccountable government structures, ensuring that neither Democrats nor Republicans could operate without proper accountability. This constitutional framework, according to Clinton, should apply universally regardless of party affiliation.
During the discussion, Clinton also addressed recent reports regarding former President Joe Biden’s cognitive abilities during his final months in office. Clinton defended Biden’s mental acuity, stating that whenever he interacted with Biden, his judgment remained sound and he stayed informed on relevant matters. However, Clinton questioned the White House staff’s decisions leading up to Biden’s June 2024 CNN debate performance against Trump.
Clinton specifically criticized the scheduling that had the 80-year-old Biden traveling to Europe twice and California once in the 10 days preceding the debate. He questioned why such extensive travel was permitted for someone of Biden’s age during such a crucial period, though he ultimately suggested the public should focus on future developments rather than past administrative decisions.
Regarding Trump’s current policy implementation, Clinton observed that the president was fulfilling campaign promises related to Project 2025, despite Trump’s previous campaign trail disavowals of the Heritage Foundation policy handbook. Clinton noted that Trump’s actions regarding immigration, tariffs, and tax policies have exceeded what many anticipated during the campaign.
Clinton and Patterson also discussed their personal collaboration and friendship during the interview. Patterson shared anecdotes about Clinton’s grandfatherly demeanor, including an instance where Clinton called wearing a tiger suit while spending time with grandchildren. The authors used their platform to criticize recent book bans and removals from school districts and military institutions, with Clinton taking particular offense at the removal of Maya Angelou’s “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings” from the U.S. Naval Academy’s library.
The appearance underscored Clinton’s broader concerns about democratic institutions and constitutional governance, positioning his warnings within the context of ongoing political tensions between the executive branch and judicial system. His comments reflected Democratic concerns about the sustainability of checks and balances during Trump’s second administration.
