President Donald Trump issued a sharp rebuke of the Federalist Society and its former executive Leonard Leo after a federal judge, appointed on the group’s recommendation, sided against his administration's tariff policies.

In a detailed Truth Social post on Thursday, President Trump expressed deep frustration over the role Leo and the Federalist Society played in shaping his judicial picks, highlighting what he now sees as a misguided trust placed in establishment conservatives.

“It was suggested that I use the Federalist Society as a recommending source on Judges. I did so, openly and freely, but then realized that they were under the thumb of a real ‘sleazebag’ named Leonard Leo, a bad person who, in his own way, probably hates America and obviously has his own separate ambitions,” Trump stated in his post.

The President did not mince words, branding Leo a self-serving insider and accusing him of undermining the very America-first agenda that conservatives have long demanded from the judiciary.

“I am so disappointed in The Federalist Society because of the bad advice they gave me on numerous Judicial Nominations. This is something that cannot be forgotten!" Trump wrote. "With all of that being said, I am very proud of many of our picks, but very disappointed in others. They always must do what’s right for the Country! In this case it is only because of my successful use of tariffs that many trillions of dollars have already begun.”

Trump went further, claiming Leo had boasted about wielding influence over judges—including those on the Supreme Court—a notion the President says he hopes is untrue.

“I hope that is not so, and I don’t believe it is,” he added.

Leo, in a statement to the Washington Times, did not directly address Trump’s pointed criticisms. “I’m very grateful for President Trump transforming the Federal Courts, and it was a privilege being involved. There’s more work to be done, for sure, but the Federal Judiciary is better than it’s ever been in modern history, and that will be President Trump’s most important legacy,” Leo said.

The backlash follows a ruling on Wednesday from a three-judge panel on the U.S. Court of International Trade that took aim at Trump’s aggressive use of tariffs. The panel ruled that Trump exceeded his authority in invoking emergency powers to impose tariffs on nations including China, Canada, and Mexico—measures he said were necessary to combat fentanyl trafficking and address the trade imbalance harming American workers.

The court claimed the emergency declaration didn’t apply because the tariffs weren’t directly linked to curbing fentanyl. Judge Timothy Reif, a Trump appointee, joined Obama-era Judge Gary Katzmann and Reagan appointee Jane Restani in issuing the decision.

Judge Reif’s alignment with left-leaning colleagues adds him to a troubling pattern of Trump-appointed judges who have, time and again, undermined key policy initiatives.

Just weeks ago, Trump-appointed Judge Fernando Rodriguez blocked the administration’s move to apply the Alien Enemies Act to deport suspected members of the violent Tren de Aragua gang. Fortunately, the full U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit intervened Thursday, staying that ruling and allowing the administration time to appeal.

In his Truth Social message, President Trump questioned the motives behind such rulings, raising concerns about judicial overreach and potential political bias.

“How is it possible for them to have potentially done such damage to the United States of America? Is it purely a hatred of ‘TRUMP?’ What other reason could there be?” he asked.

Despite the setbacks, Trump expressed confidence in ultimate vindication from the nation’s highest court.

“Under this decision, trillions of dollars would be lost by our country, money that will make America great again,” he warned. “It would be the harshest financial ruling ever leveled on us as a sovereign nation.”

As President Trump continues to fight for strong borders, a fair trade system, and an America-first judiciary, his remarks signal a clear warning to conservative institutions: loyalty to the Constitution and the American people must come before political gamesmanship.