President Trump took a front row seat in the Supreme Court on Wednesday to listen to arguments in a birthright citizenship case.
The president sat in the court’s public gallery, with Attorney General Pam Bondi at his side, to listen to Solicitor General John Sauer make the case for his executive order redefining American citizenship.
The justices are considering the legality of the president’s order that aimed to end birthright citizenship for children of unauthorized immigrants and those on temporary visas, such as tourists or students.
At question is whether the order complies with the 14th Amendment’s Citizenship Clause, which the White House claims has been misinterpreted.
But Trump will not be seen nor heard as lawyers deliver their arguments.
The high court has a different set of rules when it comes to media coverage.
Neither television cameras nor still photographers are allowed in the court, per longstanding tradition.
Audio from the hearing is played live but only the attorneys in the case and the justices can speak.
Trump, who became the first sitting president to attend oral arguments at the court, has had a contentious relationship with the court. The justices, in an earlier ruling, invalidated Trump’s tariff plan, which is a major part of his agenda.
The president has been critical of their work.
As the hearing began, the justices didn’t acknowledge the president’s presence but merely started asking their questions.
Trump told reporters on Tuesday he wanted to attend the hearing because he’s been invested in the issue for a long time.
“I’m going,” he said, adding, he’d “just sit there and listen, because I have listened to this argument for so long.”
