Context behind Reuters poll on 82% of adults want presidents to obey courts

• Eighty-two percent of Americans, with bipartisan agreement, believe presidents should obey court rulings. That’s according to a new Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted amid disputes between the Trump administration and the courts over orders blocking his executive actions.
• A judge is reviewing a case regarding deportation flights to El Salvador to determine whether the Trump Administration violated a judge’s order requiring flights to turn around.
• Confidence in the judicial system is at a record low, according to a separate Gallup poll.

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A new Reuters/Ipsos poll found that 82% of Americans believe “presidents should obey the courts,” with bipartisan agreement on this principle. The survey, which finished surveying people on Sunday, March 23, polled 1,030 adults at a time when a court case between the Trump administration and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is unfolding over deportation flights to El Salvador under the 1793 Alien Enemies Act.

Poll results

The poll specifically asked respondents whether “the President of the United States should obey federal court rulings even if the President doesn’t want to.”

The results showed:

• 82% said yes
• 14% said no

The poll also asked if “the Trump administration should continue to deport people they view as a risk despite the court order.”

The results showed:

• 76% of Republicans said yes
• 92% of Democrats said no

Legal dispute over deportation flights

The ACLU has argued in court that the Trump administration violated a judge’s order halting deportation flights under the Alien Enemies Act. The administration contends it did not violate the ruling. As of Wednesday, March 26, the court has not determined whether the administration was in violation.

Ongoing deportation efforts

While a court order currently blocks deportation flights under the Alien Enemies Act, the administration continues removals under other immigration laws, such as Title 8 removal proceedings. Deportation flights unrelated to the Alien Enemies Act have continued, including flights to Venezuela on Saturday, March 22.

The ACLU’s concerns arose when deportation flights to El Salvador took place while a court hearing was in session. The group claims this violated the judge’s order to halt flights and return any planes already in transit. The Trump administration argues that the planes in question were already over international waters and, therefore, not subject to the ruling. Judge James Boasberg is currently reviewing the case but has not ruled on whether the administration was in violation.

Administration officials critical of judges’ orders

The Trump administration has been vocal in its opposition to court rulings that limit its immigration policies and other executive actions. Several officials have criticized the judiciary.

• Stephen Miller, White House Deputy Chief of Staff: “District court judges do not have the authority as a general matter to enjoin the function of the executive branch, but their authority is at its lowest point when the president is exercising his powers as commander in chief.”
• Karoline Leavitt, White House Press Secretary: “We have judges in this country who are acting as partisan activists from the bench.”
• Pam Bondi, U.S. Attorney General: “You have one unelected federal judge trying to control foreign policies, trying to control the Alien Enemies Act, which they have no business presiding over.”

Public confidence in the judiciary

While the Reuters/Ipsos poll reflects strong support for presidential obedience to court rulings, it did not measure public trust in the judiciary. However, a separate Gallup poll in 2024 reported that confidence in the judicial system hit a record low of 35%, marking one of the largest declines in confidence Gallup has measured globally.

For detailed coverage of Trump’s deportation flights to El Salvador and the administration’s use of the Alien Enemies Act, check out this week’s episode of Bias Breakdown here.