Trump Names New Judicial Nominees, Slams Judges Blocking His Agenda
President Donald Trump is taking bold steps to reshape the judiciary amid mounting frustrations over court-imposed roadblocks that are undermining his constitutional authority and obstructing the will of the American people.
In a series of posts this week on Truth Social, the president announced a wave of judicial nominations while calling out activist judges for stalling key administration efforts—including the deportation of violent criminal aliens.
“Our Court System is not letting me do the job I was Elected to do,” Trump wrote on Wednesday. “Activist judges must let the Trump Administration deport murderers, and other criminals who have come into our Country illegally, WITHOUT DELAY!!!”
Despite judicial resistance, President Trump is pressing forward with a robust strategy to restore law and order by nominating strong constitutionalists to key judicial seats.
On Tuesday, Trump nominated Maria Lanahan, Missouri’s Principal Deputy Solicitor General, to serve on the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri. He praised her as “a true patriot.”
In the same announcement, the president described Judge Cristian Stevens, who currently serves on the Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District, as “a great patriot.”
Trump also named Zachary Bluestone—appellate chief and violent crimes prosecutor for the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Eastern District of Missouri—to the same court, calling him “a True Legal Warrior.” Bluestone has earned a reputation for being tough on violent offenders and committed to restoring justice to crime-ridden communities.
Additionally, Trump nominated Missouri Solicitor General Joshua Divine to serve on the U.S. District Court for both the Eastern and Western Districts of Missouri.
Beyond Missouri, the president is seeking to strengthen the bench in Washington, D.C., nominating Edward Aloysius O’Connell to serve as Associate Judge on the Superior Court of the District of Columbia.
“I am proud to nominate Edward Aloysius O’Connell to serve as Associate Judge on the Superior Court of the District of Columbia,” Trump declared. “Eddie will help fix Violent Crime in the City by restoring the RULE OF LAW to Washington, D.C.”
O’Connell currently serves as Chief of Staff and Deputy General Counsel for the Office of the Inspector General of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board.
The president also recently announced Whitney Hermandorfer’s nomination to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. Hermandorfer, Director of the Strategic Litigation Unit at the Tennessee Attorney General’s Office, was described by Trump as “a fighter who will inspire confidence in our legal system.”
All of President Trump’s judicial nominees will require Senate confirmation, where the Republican majority is expected to fast-track qualified candidates who align with the administration’s constitutionalist vision.
Surgeon General Pick Withdrawn Amid Scrutiny, Replacement Named
In another high-level personnel change, President Trump announced the withdrawal of Dr. Janette Nesheiwat’s nomination for U.S. Surgeon General just days before her confirmation hearing was scheduled to begin.
The decision came amid concerns regarding the accuracy of her publicly listed credentials. Nesheiwat’s LinkedIn profile claimed an M.D. from the University of Arkansas, though it was later clarified that she received her degree from the American University of the Caribbean in St. Maarten and only completed her residency in Arkansas. Independent journalist Anthony Clark was the first to raise red flags via Substack.
On Sunday, conservative activist Laura Loomer also voiced opposition to Nesheiwat’s confirmation, pointing to her prior support for COVID-19 vaccines.
Nesheiwat responded publicly after the nomination was withdrawn, posting on X: “I am looking forward to continuing to support President Trump and working closely with Secretary Kennedy in a senior policy role to Make America Healthy Again! My focus continues to be on improving the health and well-being of all Americans, and that mission hasn’t changed.”
Trump has already named Dr. Casey Means as her replacement, citing her strong qualifications to help lead the administration’s “Make America Healthy Again” (MAHA) initiative. Means, a medical entrepreneur closely aligned with Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., is expected to bring a fresh and reform-minded approach to the role.
Nesheiwat, a former Fox News medical contributor, is also connected to the Trump administration through her brother-in-law, Mike Waltz, who was recently removed as national security advisor and is now the nominee for U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations.
As President Trump accelerates his second-term efforts to restore order, secure the border, and overhaul the nation’s health and justice systems, the message from the White House is clear: America’s institutions must serve the people—not the bureaucrats and activist judges trying to stop reform at every turn.