Trump vs. Judge on Alien Enemies Act Escalates, Biden Autopen Questions, Putin Call: AM Update 3/18

Summary

The Megyn Kelly Show: Trump vs. Judge on Alien Enemies Act Escalates, Biden Autopen Questions, Putin Call

Release Date: March 18, 2025
Host: Megyn Kelly
Platform: SiriusXM

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1. Trump Administration's Deportation of Trenda Aragua Gang Members

The episode opens with a heated discussion surrounding the Trump administration's decision to deport over 100 members of the Trenda Aragua gang from Venezuela under the controversial Alien Enemies Act of 1798. This action defies a court order by District Court Judge James Boasberg, who had mandated the return of these individuals to the United States.

Megyn Kelly introduces the topic, highlighting the administration's stance against the judge's directive:
“The Trump administration doubling down on deporting more than 100 Trenda Iragua gang members from Venezuela in spite of a judge's order demanding their return to the United States.” (00:17)

Judge James Boasberg had previously ordered a two-week pause on the deportations, asserting that any planes already en route must turn back. Despite Supreme Court precedent that limits judicial review over the Alien Enemies Act, Judge Boasberg challenged the administration's actions, prompting a robust response from the Trump team.

Key Perspectives:

• Stephen Miller, Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy, vehemently criticizes the judicial intervention in foreign policy:
  “If a district court judge can be involved in the conduct of our foreign policy, under no definition do we have a democracy in this country.” (03:21)

• Tom Homan, the Border Czar, responds to the backlash, asserting compliance with the judge's order:
  “We did comply with his written order on five aliens that he didn’t want deported.” (03:39)

• DOJ Lawyer elaborates on the criminal activities of the deportees, emphasizing the severity of their offenses:
  “They led a multi-state sex trafficking operation involving smuggling women into the United States, holding them in stash houses...” (04:15)

• Jasmine Crockett, a Democrat Congressman, voices concerns over potential racial profiling and the antiquated nature of the Alien Enemies Act:
  “Of Trend Aragua deported without evidence, without a hearing.” (05:02)
  “The Alien Enemies act is antiquated. The government has other ways of deporting terrorist gang members.” (05:11)

The administration defends its use of the Alien Enemies Act, arguing that it is a necessary tool in combating terrorism. However, critics argue that its application poses risks of wrongful targeting and undermines established legal processes.

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2. Biden Administration's Use of Auto Pen for Pardons Under Scrutiny

A significant portion of the episode delves into the controversy surrounding President Biden's use of an auto pen to sign last-minute pardons. President Trump publicly declared these pardons null and void, questioning their legality and Biden's involvement.

Megyn Kelly sets the stage for this controversy:
“President Trump announcing President Biden's last minute pardons signed by auto pen are null and void. Is that legal?” (00:34)

President Trump challenges the legitimacy of the auto pen-signed pardons:
“Joe Biden did not sign them, but more importantly, he did not know anything about them... using an auto pen to sign off and to give pardons is disgraceful.” (08:25)
“Did he know what he was doing? Did he authorize it?” (08:25)

Megyn Kelly references the New York Post report highlighting suspected abuse of auto pen privileges by Biden White House staffers:
“A staffer telling the Post, quote, everyone was suspicious of this individual exceeding their authority when claiming to speak for the President.” (09:01)

The use of auto pens has a historical precedent but remains controversial, especially when used for significant actions like issuing pardons. The episode explores the potential legal disputes arising from these practices and the implications for presidential authority.

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3. Upcoming Trump-Putin Call on Ukraine Ceasefire Negotiations

The episode covers the anticipated discussion between Presidents Trump and Putin aimed at securing a ceasefire in the ongoing Ukraine conflict. The negotiations include potential concessions from Russia and strategic considerations for both nations.

Megyn Kelly reports on Trump's approach to the negotiations:
“President Trump more open to discussing some concessions that will have to come from the Russians.” (10:59)

President Trump outlines potential negotiation points:
“We'll be talking about land, power plants... dividing up certain assets.” (11:15)

Russian Objectives and U.S. Proposals:

• President Putin is reportedly seeking guarantees that Ukraine will not join NATO, a demand Trump has consistently opposed.
• The discussions also touch on the deployment of peacekeeping forces, with Trump considering French and British troops coupled with U.S. economic investments in Ukraine as a deterrent against further aggression.

Caroline Levitt, White House Press Secretary, describes the negotiations as being "on the 10 yard line," indicating they're nearing a critical phase.

Additionally, the episode highlights Trump's firm stance against the Houthi rebel group in Yemen, emphasizing strategic military actions to secure vital shipping lanes in the Red Sea.

Donald Trump comments on the offensive against the Houthis:
“Shooting at your ships, we'll stop shooting.” (14:02)
Stephen Miller adds:
“At your drones, this campaign will end. But until then, it will be unrelenting.” (14:03)

The offensive aims to restore freedom of navigation and deter further attacks, crucial for global trade and security.

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4. Senator Chuck Schumer Cancels Book Tour Amid Security Concerns

The episode concludes with coverage of Senator Chuck Schumer's decision to cancel his planned book tour due to security threats and anticipated protests from progressive groups.

Megyn Kelly introduces the issue:
“Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer cancels a book tour citing security concerns amid reports of progressive groups planning protests.” (10:59)

Details Include:

• Scheduled stops in Baltimore, Washington, New York City, Philadelphia, and Los Angeles were postponed.
• Indivisible, a progressive group, and members of the Sunrise Movement were identified as potential protestors, with instances of arrests and petitions urging Democratic boycotts against Schumer.

An unnamed Democratic Congressman criticizes Schumer's leadership:
“Mr. Schumer has been effectively impotent as minority leader, offering no comprehensive plan or strategy...” (05:19)

The episode discusses the internal fallout within the Democratic Party, highlighting resignations and growing frustration among party ranks regarding Schumer's effectiveness and leadership.

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Conclusion

Megyn Kelly wraps up the episode by reiterating the major topics discussed:

• The escalating conflict between the Trump administration and the judiciary over the Alien Enemies Act.
• Legal and ethical questions surrounding President Biden's use of an auto pen for pardons.
• High-stakes diplomatic negotiations between Presidents Trump and Putin aimed at resolving the Ukraine conflict.
• Internal challenges within the Democratic Party as evidenced by Senator Schumer's canceled book tour and rising dissent.

This comprehensive analysis provides listeners with an in-depth understanding of the political tensions and significant events shaping the current landscape.

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Note: Advertisements and non-content segments from the episode were excluded as per request.

Transcript

[Megyn Kelly]

Good morning, everyone. I'm Megyn Kelly. It's Tuesday, March 18, 2025 and this is your AM update.

[Stephen Miller]

If a district court judge can be involved in the conduct of our foreign policy, under no definition do we have a democracy in this country.

[Megyn Kelly]

The Trump administration doubling down on deporting more than 100 Trenda Iragua gang members from Venezuela in spite of a judge's order demanding their return to the United States.

[Donald Trump]

The whole subject of wood open. Did he what he was doing, did he authorize it?

[Megyn Kelly]

President Trump announcing President Biden's last minute pardons signed by auto pen are null and void. Is that legal? And Russian President Vladimir Putin and American President Trump expected to speak later today in hopes of securing a cease fire. In Ukraine, Senator Chuck Schumer cancels a book tour citing alleged security concerns amid reports of progressive groups planning protests of him. All that and more coming up in just a moment on your AM Update.

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[Megyn Kelly]

A federal judge ordering the Trump administration back into court yesterday following the successful deportation of Trenda Aragua gang members under the Alien enemies Act of 1798. The DOJ's motion to vacate the hearing denied by D.C. district Court Judge James Boasberg on Saturday. That judge ordering a two week pause on the administration's plans to conduct deportations under the wartime act, which also applies in case of an invasion, stating any planes already in the air must turn around and return to the United States. This order granted in spite of Supreme Court precedent stating that the Alien Enemies act does not allow judicial review of removal orders. Judge Boasberg demanding answers from the Trump Organization on Monday as to why he says they did not comply with his order. The Trump administration contends the planes were already in international territory at the time of the order and thus out of the judge's jurisdiction. Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy Stephen Miller explaining to reporters the administration's position. This ruling is a dangerous overreach.

[Stephen Miller]

And if we got into a place in this country where district court judges could direct which general on the battlefield is going to be in charge of making which decisions could direct what intelligence we could share if a district court judge can be involved in the conduct of our foreign policy, under no definition do we have a democracy in this country.

[Megyn Kelly]

Border czar Tom Homan telling Fox Business the White House complied with the original narrower order from the judge.

[Caroline Levitt]

Well, actually we did comply with his written order on five aliens that he didn't want deported and we complied with that. But look, you know, I agree with Carolyn Levitt. I don't think I had authority to have a plane of terrorists turn around the middle of international waters and bring terrorists back into this country.

[Megyn Kelly]

DOJ lawyers on Monday requesting the D.C. appellate court reassign this case to another judge. Press secretary Caroline Levitt describing some of the crimes the Trend Aragua deportees were involved in.

[DOJ Lawyer]

They led a multi sex state sex trafficking operation involving smuggling women into the United States, holding them in stash houses in Louisiana, Florida, New Jersey, Texas and Virginia and forcing them into prostitution. And they kidnapped and murdered a 33 year old woman in Texas. They sexually and physically assaulted a woman and her daughter in Wisconsin. They conducted a mass shooting in Illinois.

[Megyn Kelly]

Trenda Aragua is the same organization responsible for the rapes and murders of of little Jocelyn Nungare and 22 year old Lake and Riley. Ms. Levitt says the government is paying El Salvador about 6 million bucks to house these illegals on our behalf. Critics of the administration say invoking the act poses a grave threat to American citizens.

[Jasmine Crockett]

There are US Citizens of Venezuelan descent.

[Megyn Kelly]

Who are worried that they're going to be targeted, wrongly accused of being members.

[Jasmine Crockett]

Of Trend Aragua deported without evidence, without a hearing.

[Unnamed Democrat Congressman]

A lot of them are my friends, are my neighbors, they live in Miami. And what he is doing to Venezuelans is disgusting. But you know what, you voted for.

[Megyn Kelly]

That you're finding out. We have to be prepared for the racial profiling of latino boys ages 14 to 18 who right now have that conversation with your kids because they need to know their rights in the face of what this president is doing. The Alien Enemies act only applies to non citizens. Even naturalized citizens cannot be legally deported under this act. Democrat congressman from Texas, Jasmine Crockett telling CNN the Alien Enemies act is antiquated. The government has other ways of deporting terrorist gang members, she says.

[Unnamed Democrat Congressman]

We already have tools that are available to remove undocumented, violent people from our country. And so the idea that you want to go into a zombie law, it is the fact that we can't trust this administration to actually use a scalpel. But instead they love to use a butcher knife on things. And so giving them this wide latitude to just kind of go across and just claim that anybody is anything is wrong. And so we do have courts, we do have processes, we do have laws and we should just go ahead and use those.

[Megyn Kelly]

Tom Homan responding to that criticism from outside the White House on Monday.

[Stephen Miller]

You say to those who claim you're using a 200-year-old law to circumvent due.

[Caroline Levitt]

Process, an old law, not as old as Constitution. We still pay attention to that, don't we?

[Megyn Kelly]

Mr. Homan Vowing the deportation flights will continue. President Trump declaring early Monday morning the pardons signed by Joe Biden's auto pen at the end of his presidency are null and void. Mr. Trump writing on truth social quote, Joe Biden did not sign them, but more importantly, he did not know anything about them. The necessary pardoning documents were not explained to or approved by Biden. President Trump saying the staffers who did know about the auto pen signatures may have committed a crime. An auto pen is a mechanical device used to replicate the president's signature with a real pen as opposed to a stamp or a digital copy. Auto pens have been used by the White House for decades, the earliest models employed by Thomas Jefferson. Typically they're only used for mass communications like Christmas cards and more routine documents. President Obama employed the auto pen twice on major pieces of legislation extending the patriot act in 2011 and again in 2013 to sign a fiscal bill. Both times the move was met with some controversy. The questions surrounding the Biden administration's UN use of the auto pen, originally raised last week by the conservative Heritage Foundation. Their investigation finding the signatures on President Biden's January 19th pardons for his family members, Dr. Fauci, General Milley, the J 6th Select Committee all appear to be identical. Throughout the week, the Heritage Foundation's oversight project identifying dozens more of President Biden's identical signatures on official White House documents. Given President Biden's now widely recognized cognitive decline. President Trump challenging the validity of any auto pen signed documents.

[Donald Trump]

The whole subject of auto pen did he know what he was doing? Did he authorize it? Or is this somebody in an office, maybe a radical left lunatic, just signing whatever that person was. We may use it as an example to send some young person a letter because it's nice. You know, we get thousands and thousands of letters. But to sign pardons and all of the things that he signed with an autopen is disgraceful. But I would say that they're not because I'm sure Biden didn't have any idea that it was taking place and somebody was using an auto pen to sign off and to give pardons.

[Megyn Kelly]

The New York Post reporting late last week 2 Biden White House staffers suspected a key aide may have abused the autopen privileges. The staffer telling the Post, quote, everyone was suspicious of this individual exceeding their authority when claiming to speak for the President. There is no clarity on who actually approved what potus, meaning the President or the aide. The Constitution does not require that a pardon be written at all, nor does it contain edicts about signatures. If President Trump is challenging whether Mr. Biden agreed to the pardons at all, that could lead to a legal dispute. So far, the White House has not announced any official challenges to the pardons. President Trump acknowledged to reporters. If his claims go further, it would be up to the courts to decide. Coming up, President Trump is set to speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin later today and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer cancels a book tour citing security concerns amid reports of progressive groups planning protests at them. All that and more in just a moment on your AM Update.

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[Megyn Kelly]

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[Megyn Kelly]

Later today, President Trump set to speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the ongoing negotiation toward a ceasefire in Ukraine in recent weeks. President Trump more open to discussing some concessions that will have to come from the Russians. The president providing some details on board Air Force One.

[Donald Trump]

I'll be speaking to President Putin on Tuesday. What sort of concessions will you be seeking to have Putin make to get a deal done? Well, I think we'll be talking about land. It's a lot of land. It's a lot different than it was before the war, as you know. And we'll be talking about land, we'll be talking about power plants. That's up. You know, it's a big question, but I think we have a lot of it already discussed very much by both sides. You'll ask Ukraine and Russia. We're already talking about that. Dividing up certain assets.

[Megyn Kelly]

Mr. Putin will reportedly be seeking ironclad guarantees that Ukraine will not be allowed to join NATO. Mr. Trump has repeatedly stated that will not happen. No word yet on what such guarantees might look like. Russian officials also stating their opposition to NATO observers deploying to Ukraine. President Trump has expressed openness to sending French and British forces as peacekeepers after the war. President Trump believes those forces, in combination with U.S. economic investment in Ukraine, will be more than enough to thwart further Russian aggression. Press Secretary Caroline Levitt describing the negotiations as on the 10 yard line. Mr. Trump has recently floated the use of sanctions against the Russians if necessary to speed along negotiations. President Trump putting Iran on notice. Any further shots fired from Houthi rebels will be considered shots fired by Iran. The Houthis are a rebel group in Yemen that have been engaged in a civil war since they took over the capital in 2014. Their rallying cry is reportedly death to America, death to Israel, a curse upon the Jews, victory to Islam. Hmm. President Trump writing on Truth Social Iran is, quote, dictating every move, giving them the weapons, supplying them with money and highly sophisticated military equipment and even so called intelligence. The president warning Iranian leadership consequences of aiding the Houthis will be dire. The group stepping up attacks on ships in the Red Sea, which connects the Mediterranean to the Indian Ocean, shortly after the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel. Secretary of State Marco Rubio says in that time, the Houthis have attacked US warships 174 times and commercial vessels 145 times. The group recently threatening to ramp up attacks even more. On Saturday, President Trump ordering strikes on the rebel group. The initial wave of strikes taking out more than 30 targets at multiple locations. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth warning the group their fate is in their own hands. This campaign is about freedom of navigation and restoring deterrence.

[Donald Trump]

The minute the Houthis say we'll stop.

[Megyn Kelly]

Shooting at your ships, we'll stop shooting.

[Stephen Miller]

At your drones, this campaign will end. But until then, it will be unrelenting.

[Megyn Kelly]

The Red Sea is one of the most important global shipping lanes, according to the White House. Before Houthi attacks, 25,000 merchant ships passed through the Red Sea annually, that number declining to about 10,000 thanks to Houthi threats. The alternative route is three times as long, forcing ships to travel all the way around Africa, driving up shipping prices and wait times. President Trump says the offensive is not just good for America, it's good for the world. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer postponing his book tour as activist groups and some Democrat lawmakers condemn his vote to keep the government open. Senator Schumer was scheduled to appear in Baltimore, Washington, New York City, Philly and LA to promote his new book, Anti Semitism in America. A warning, a representative stating, quote, due to recent security concerns, Senator Schumer's book events are being rescheduled. NBC reporting. The New York event was supposed to be a conversation between the senator and New York Congressman Richie Torres. Mr. Torres openly criticizing Mr. Schumer's decision to advance the continuing resolution on the budget. Posting on X quote, bailing out the Republicans without extracting anything in return is political malpractice. Specific security threats were not cited, though the Soros backed progressive group Indivisible had planned protests surrounding stops on the tour. Indivisible is just one progressive group calling for Mr. Schumer to resign. On Friday, 11 members of the Sunrise Movement, a group fighting for radical climate change policies, were arrested outside of Senator Schumer's office In Washington, a Change.org petition calling on Democrats to boycott donations to Senate Democrats until Mr. Schumer steps down, gathering more than 25,000 signatures. The petition reading, quote, Mr. Schumer has been effectively impotent as minority leader, offering no comprehensive plan or strategy to combat the efforts by Trump and Elon Musk. Amid the fallout, Senator Schumer's longtime legislative director is departing the office. Axios reporting the move's been in the works, allegedly for a number of months. This as anger toward Mr. Schumer continues unabated amongst the Team Blue rank and file. So was it a fear of threats that led him to cancel the tour or of low attendance? That'll do it for your AM Update. I'm Megyn Kelly Join me back here for for the Megyn Kelly Show. We're live on Sirius XM Triumph Channel 111 at noon east on YouTube.com Megyn Kelly and on all podcast platforms.

[Jasmine Crockett]

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