On June 29, 2026, the U.S. Supreme Court issued several major rulings with significant implications for the Trump administration and the 2026 midterm elections. In a 5-4 decision written by Justice Amy Coney Barrett, the Court upheld Mississippi's mail-in ballot grace period, allowing ballots postmarked by Election Day to be counted up to five days later—a defeat for the Republican National Committee and President Trump, who had campaigned against mail voting. The ruling preserved similar laws in 14 other states and rejected arguments that federal election-day statutes preempt state rules. Simultaneously, the Court delivered a major victory for President Trump by overturning the 1935 Humphrey's Executor precedent. In a 6-3 ruling, the Court held that the president may fire members of independent agencies like the Federal Trade Commission without cause, expanding executive power. However, the Court also ruled 5-4 that President Trump could not immediately remove Federal Reserve Board member Lisa Cook, allowing her to remain in her post while litigation continues—preserving the Fed's independence for now. In a separate action, the Supreme Court declined to hear Trump's appeal of the $5 million civil verdict in E. Jean Carroll's sexual abuse and defamation case, leaving the jury's findings intact. Trump reacted vehemently on social media, calling the verdict a "Fake Case" and vowing to continue fighting. The rulings sparked immediate political reactions, with Trump calling for passage of the SAVE America Act to restrict voting, while Democratic leaders praised the Court's rejection of what they called partisan voting restrictions.
Comprehensive coverage of the mail-ballot ruling and its political implications
NBC News covers the mail-ballot ruling as a setback for Trump and the RNC, noting the court's 5-4 split and quoting Senate Minority Leader Schumer's praise. Also provides video coverage of the Fed ruling.
International perspective: Court limits Trump's voting crusade; implications for federalism
NZZ frames the mail-ballot ruling as a blow to Trump's campaign against postal voting and a reaffirmation of states' rights under federal law, with analysis of the decision's impact on midterms.
n-tv covers the Supreme Court's decision blocking Trump's removal of Fed board member Lisa Cook, emphasizing the tradition of central bank independence and the procedural reasons for the ruling.
Al Jazeera reports the Supreme Court's rejection of Trump's appeal in the Carroll case, highlighting the lower court's reasoning and Trump's continued denial.
Overall assessment: Court strengthens Trump's power over agencies but not over the Fed
FAZ provides a broader overview linking the agency ruling (win for Trump) and the Fed ruling (loss), noting the Court's nuanced stance on executive power.
Trump's furious reaction to Supreme Court defeats on mail ballots and Carroll
The Independent focuses on President Trump's angry social-media posts after the court's mail-ballot ruling, including his warning of 'CHEATING' and call for the SAVE America Act, and his vow to fight the Carroll verdict.
NPR provides balanced reporting on the mail ballot ruling (loss for GOP) and the independent agencies ruling (win for Trump), quoting Justice Barrett's majority opinion and Justice Sotomayor's dissent.
The day's rulings underscore a fractured Supreme Court that simultaneously expanded presidential power over federal agencies while checking Trump's ability to reshape election rules and punish individual agency members. The mail-ballot decision protects an estimated 18 states' grace periods ahead of critical midterm elections, but the end of the Humphrey's Executor doctrine gives Trump significant leverage over regulatory bodies going forward. The simultaneous loss in the Carroll case adds to Trump's legal liabilities, though he continues to rally his base against what he terms "lawfare." The mixed outcomes reflect the Court's ideological divisions and the high stakes of the 2026 election cycle.
The exact impact of the Fed ruling on central bank independence
| Outlet | Claim |
|---|---|
| NPR | The Court ruled 5-4 that Lisa Cook can remain in her job until litigation is resolved in the lower courts, preserving Fed independence for now. |
| n-tv | The Court ruled that Cook had not been given sufficient opportunity to respond to accusations, and that the tradition of an independent central bank is decisive. |
| FAZ | The Court strengthened Trump's power over most agencies but not over the Fed, implying a nuanced outcome. |
The Supreme Court's June 29 rulings reveal a deeply divided Court that is reshaping executive power in contradictory ways. The mail-ballot decision protects voting access ahead of the midterms but runs counter to Trump's anti-mail-voting agenda, while the agency ruling gives Trump sweeping new authority over federal regulators. The Fed ruling carves out a limited exception for central bank independence. The Carroll case rejection shows the Court unwilling to intervene in a fact-based jury verdict. Overall, the day's outcomes reflect a Court that is activist on executive authority but cautious on election procedures and personal liability.
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