Donald Trump Allegedly Lashes Out at His Hand-Picked Supreme Court Justices Over Missouri Voting Map

Donald Trump criticised the US Supreme Court on Sunday after the justices blocked federal court orders that would have required Missouri to use a 2025 congressional map in the November 2026 election.

The Supreme Court's 25 September order stayed the Eighth Circuit and district court orders and said neither court should prohibit use of the 2022 map or require use of the 2025 map.

Timeline of the Legal Dispute

The dispute centres on a 2025 map passed by Missouri's Republican-led legislature and backed by Trump. The map was expected to improve Republicans' chances of gaining an additional House seat, according to reports. It significantly altered the Kansas City-area district represented by Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, a change that could have made the seat more competitive for Republicans.

On 3 September, the Missouri Supreme Court unanimously ruled that the 2025 map had not taken effect because a valid referendum petition had been filed. It said the map would not take effect unless voters approved it and ordered officials to use the 2022 map for the November election.

On 8 September, Justice Brett Kavanaugh denied Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway's request to stay the Missouri Supreme Court's ruling. Two days later, the full US Supreme Court granted a separate stay of a federal district court order that had required Missouri to use the 2025 map.

On 21 September, the Eighth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that Missouri's use of the 2022 map for the November election violated the US Constitution and directed the district court to enter a permanent injunction requiring use of the 2025 map. The Eighth Circuit delayed enforcement until 28 September to give the Supreme Court time to consider an emergency appeal.

The Supreme Court intervened on 25 September. Its order stayed the Eighth Circuit's mandate and the related district court injunctions. The order did not note any dissent.

Why the Supreme Court Acted

The Court cited the timing of the election and the practical difficulties of changing the map after ballots had been printed and voting had begun. 'The election is not merely upcoming, it has already started,' the ruling said. Ballots using the 2022 map had been printed and mailed, while absentee, military and overseas voting had begun.

Changing the boundaries at that stage, the justices warned, would 'usher in electoral chaos.' The Court said Missouri election officials had already begun preparing and distributing ballots under the 2022 map, making a last-minute change difficult.

Trump's Response

Trump criticised the Court in a Truth Social post on Sunday morning. He wrote, 'The Supreme Court of the United States will just not let Missouri have an Election Victory. They continuously, three times now, overrule Judges who came to the correct decisions.'

He added, 'Such tremendous Spirit and Love of our Country. I won Missouri BIG, all three times, and I couldn't be more proud of doing so. A great place, I love you all! President DONALD J. TRUMP.'

Trump nominated three of the justices currently serving on the Supreme Court, Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett. The latest order was issued without a noted dissent, including from those three justices.

Broader Context on Legal Battle

The legal battle is unfolding as Republicans seek to retain control of the House in the November midterm elections. Under the 2022 map, Missouri's eight-member House delegation currently includes six Republicans and two Democrats.

The proposed replacement would have significantly altered Cleaver's Kansas City-area district and could have given Republicans an opportunity to gain an additional seat.

Missouri is part of a broader wave of mid-decade congressional redistricting. Republican-led efforts have affected states including Texas, North Carolina, Ohio, Florida and Tennessee, while Democrats have pursued or supported redistricting efforts in states including California and Virginia.

What Happens Next for Election

For the November election, the Supreme Court's order means Missouri will use the 2022 congressional map unless further court action changes the ruling. Whether voters approve the 2025 map in the November referendum is a separate question.

The 2022 map will govern the November congressional election unless a court issues a further order changing that position.

The Supreme Court has now issued three orders during the litigation that have prevented the 2025 map from being used for the November election.