The US Supreme Court struck down Donald Trump's executive order on birthright citizenship on Tuesday in a 6-3 ruling that leaves him with no viable path to reverse through executive action alone. It was the second time in four months that the court handed Trump a defining defeat in a 6-3 split. And on both occasions, Chief Justice John Roberts wrote the majority opinion.
The pattern makes Tuesday's ruling more than a routine legal setback. The court carries a 6-3 conservative majority that includes three justices Trump personally nominated: Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett. Barrett sided against Trump in both rulings. Gorsuch joined the majority against the tariffs in February but dissented on birthright citizenship on Tuesday. Kavanaugh dissented on the tariffs but joined the majority on birthright citizenship, each of Trump's own picks ruling against at least one of his signature policies.
