Mar. 19, 2025, 3:19 pm ET
In a significant escalation of his administration’s legal and political battles, former President Donald Trump, now supported by Vice President JD Vance, targeted sanctuary cities and prominent law firms this week, sparking a wave of legal challenges and heated rhetoric.
The Sanctions: Executive Orders Targeting Sanctuary Cities and Law Firms
On March 18-19, 2025, Trump signed executive orders aimed at withholding federal funds from sanctuary cities, including the City and County of San Francisco and the City of Chelsea. These orders come in response to ongoing legal disputes between the Trump Administration and jurisdictions that refuse to cooperate with federal immigration authorities.
The executive orders, combined with a “Sanctuary Jurisdiction Directives” memorandum issued by the Department of Justice on February 5, 2025, have prompted immediate legal action. San Francisco and Chelsea filed lawsuits on February 7 and February 23, 2025, respectively, challenging the constitutionality of the Trump Administration’s actions.
The Reaction: Law Firms Feel the Heat
The administration is also taking aim at law firms perceived as adversarial. Notable firms, including Paul Weiss and Perkins Coie, have faced sanctions restricting their access to government contracts and facilities. The move has sparked concern within the legal community, with some attorneys fearing retaliation for representing clients that might provoke Trump.
“What everyone in this industry needs to remember is that remaining silent will not shield you,” stated a lawyer from Skadden law firm. “It is far more prudent for the industry as a whole to reject this form of targeting than to remain silent and hope that the president doesn’t come after you next.”
The Speech: President Trump Slams Media, Free Speech
In a speech to Department of Justice staff on March 18, 2025, Trump accused the media of illegal activities, claiming that negative coverage influences judges and changes laws. “It’s totally illegal what they do,” Trump asserted. “It has to stop. It has to be illegal. It’s influencing judges and it’s really changing law, and it just cannot be legal. I don’t believe it’s legal.”
This assertion has drawn criticism from legal and media experts, who argue that Trump’s claims contradict established free speech protections. Meanwhile, the White House Deputy Press Secretary Harrison Fields defended the administration’s actions, stating that “attorneys nationwide should rally behind President Trump in defense of law and order.”
The legal battles and Trump’s rhetoric have heightened tensions between the administration and its adversaries, setting the stage for potentially landmark rulings on executive power, immigration policy, and the limits of free speech. The outcome of these legal challenges could have far-reaching implications for both domestic policy and the rule of law in the United States.
