Trump faces court and party tests

Donald Trump is heading into a compressed stretch of court decisions, tax scrutiny and resistance from his own party. The Supreme Court is nearing rulings in four major cases tied to his agenda, including disputes over birthright citizenship, the firing of officials at independent agencies and protections for some immigrants. At the same time, a settlement tied to Trump’s lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service has drawn criticism over a new “anti-weaponization” fund and over protections from pending tax audits. Some Senate Republicans have also balked at funding that fund and a proposed White House ballroom project. ### Which Supreme Court cases are bearing down on Trump? The Supreme Court is expected to resume issuing opinions on Thursday, and four Trump-related cases remain among the major disputes left this term. According to U.S. News, the pending cases involve Trump’s effort to restrict birthright citizenship, remove a member of the Federal Reserve Board, oust a Federal Trade Commission member and end protected status for hundreds of thousands of immigrants from Haiti and Syria. (usnews.com) Questions from the justices during arguments suggested Trump could face setbacks in at least the birthright citizenship and Federal Reserve firing cases, U.S. News reported, citing Georgia State University law professor Anthony Michael Kreis. The court’s rulings could define how far a president can go in reshaping agencies and immigration policy. (usnews.com) ### What is the settlement fund that has drawn so much attention? The Christian Science Monitor reported on May 21 that the administration reached an unusual settlement in a case in which Trump had sued his own government. That agreement created what supporters describe as an “anti-weaponization” fund intended to compensate people the administration says were targeted by politicized justice under President Joe Biden. (usnews.com) Critics told the Monitor they fear the fund could be used to benefit Trump, his family and political allies. CNBC reported that the protections in the settlement extend to Trump, his family members, the Trump Organization and related entities, and cover pending tax audits that the IRS would otherwise have been conducting at the time of the deal. (csmonitor.com) ### Why are Trump’s taxes back at the center of the story? Forbes reported on May 21 that presidential tax immunity in the settlement could save Trump more than $600 million. The article said the arrangement gives Trump what it described as a shield from tax improprieties at the same time he is raising large sums of money. A separate Forbes analysis on May 20 said the settlement ends pending audits of past tax years while leaving future tax scrutiny in place. (csmonitor.com) PolitiFact, citing prior reporting by The New York Times, said halting long-running audits of Trump’s finances could save him about $100 million in one dispute tied to a $72.9 million tax refund, though Forbes put the broader potential benefit much higher. (forbes.com) ### Are Republicans in Congress starting to push back? Forbes reported that some Senate Republicans want to block the “anti-weaponization” fund and have resisted paying for Trump’s White House ballroom project. The same report said Trump appeared to acknowledge that support among some Senate Republicans may be slipping, even as his influence with Republican primary voters remains strong. (forbes.com) Politico reported on May 20 that Republicans were grappling with a president focused on punishing lawmakers who crossed him, a posture the outlet said was putting pressure on the party’s legislative agenda and its midterm positioning. That tension has become more visible as senators weigh whether to support Trump-backed spending and legal arrangements. (forbes.com) ### What happens next? Thursday is the next key date because that is when the Supreme Court is next expected to issue opinions, according to U.S. News. Any rulings in the birthright citizenship, agency firing or immigration cases would arrive as Congress continues to debate whether to fund or block the settlement-related mechanisms and other Trump priorities. (usnews.com) (politico.com)