Former Trump aide warns president may push extreme tactics after Supreme Court setback
Miles Taylor, a former senior staffer, says Donald Trump is likely to demand drastic actions following the Court’s 7-2 decision blocking his mail-ballot changes.
Former Department of Homeland Security official Miles Taylor, who served as chief of staff during the first Trump administration, wrote that Donald Trump is expected to respond to the Supreme Court’s 7-2 refusal to stay a lower-court order blocking his mail-in ballot restrictions. The ruling undermines Trump’s effort, via an executive order, to use the Postal Service to enforce tighter voting rules—a claim he has repeatedly labeled fraudulent.
Taylor recalls past instances when Trump, after losing major cases, summoned staff in the middle of the night to propose illegal actions, such as eliminating judges. He suggests that one outlet, more loyalist-heavy White House may be less likely to temper those urges, potentially prompting calls to the Justice Department and Homeland Security for “extreme” election-rigging ideas. The former aide stresses that while previous officials often defused such impulses, he now doubts anyone remains willing to refuse them.
Why it matters
The column hints at possible illegal attempts to influence upcoming elections, raising concerns about democratic integrity.
How this story developed
- Aug 27 Rep. Jake Auchincloss Discusses Congressional Reform and Supreme Court Changes
- Sep 5 Judge extended the preliminary injunction blocking the rule.
- Sep 5 Judge Talwani issued a new order on Friday extending the injunction.
- Sep 6 Administration filed a third petition to the Supreme Court seeking to overturn the injunction.
- Sep 8 Missouri Supreme Court issued a unanimous ruling requiring a statewide referendum before the GOP‑crafted map can be used.
- Sep 9 Supreme Court issued a 6‑3 stay of the district‑court injunction.
- Sep 10 Federal judge rejected Secretary of State Denny Hoskins' request to block the contempt proceeding.
- Sep 10 First Circuit Court of Appeals denied the administration’s request to lift the injunction, leaving the rule blocked through the November elections.
- Sep 11 U.S. Supreme Court blocked the Trump-backed congressional map, requiring use of the 2022 districts.
- Sep 14 A federal judge issued an injunction blocking the USPS mail‑ballot rule.
- Sep 14 Trump labeled the White House a “dump” and highlighted additional renovation projects such as the Reflecting Pool and nearby statues.
- Sep 15 In a 7-2 unsigned order, the Supreme Court refused to overturn blocks on a new USPS regulation that would mandate election-mail markings, barcode-compatible envelopes, and a federal portal for voter data. The majority said the Justice Department had not shown a likelihood of success on the merits. Justice Brett Kavanaugh concurred, citing insufficient time for states to implement the rule before the midterms. Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas authored a dissent, contending that the plaintiffs—mostly Democratic states—lacked standing and that the Postal Service’s statutory powers are broad. Alito emphasized that the timing argument does not justify denying the government’s application and criticized the challengers for delaying the rule’s rollout. He concluded that the “Hail Mary” effort would probably fail and urged the Court to grant the administration’s request. The decision stalls the rule for the upcoming election, though further litigation could allow implementation by 2028.
- Sep 15 Supreme Court rejected the administration’s request to stay the injunction.
- Sep 15 The Supreme Court issued an order denying the administration’s emergency request to change mail‑in ballot handling.
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