Justice Elena Kagan said the US Supreme Court is conservative but is not simply approving President Donald Trump’s agenda. Her remarks matter because they address concerns about the court’s independence and public confidence, after it has backed the administration in many important cases.

Speaking to lawyers and judges in Washington state, Kagan said the court had also checked executive power, citing rulings against Trump’s sweeping tariffs and his attempt to deny birthright citizenship to children of undocumented migrants. She acknowledged that the court had largely upheld his immigration crackdown and expanded presidential authority over federal regulators; Kagan also renewed her support for independent enforcement of the court’s 2023 ethics code.