2A Takes a Back Seat To Trump’s SCOTUS Cases

In a string of late-Friday rulings, the U.S. Supreme Court delivered two significant victories for the Trump administration—so significant, in fact, that attorney Mark Smith believes they may have caused the Court to delay a decision on the AR-15 ban challenge. Smith, who hosts the gun rights YouTube channel The Four Boxes Diner, suggested in his video and a post on X that the Court is conserving its “political capital,” choosing instead to prioritize Trump’s executive power wins over a hot-button Second Amendment ruling.

The Court’s decisions came from its emergency docket, also known as the “shadow docket.” According to Smith, both victories reinforce Trump’s authority as the head of the executive branch and beat back efforts by lower courts and deep state actors to limit his control over government agencies.

The Doge Team’s Right to Investigate Reaffirmed

One of the biggest wins came in the case involving Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency, or “Doge,” which had been blocked by lower courts from auditing the Social Security Administration. Smith explained that Doge was created via executive order on January 20, 2025, to root out waste, fraud, and inefficiencies in the federal government. Yet the district court had issued an injunction preventing Doge from accessing certain SSA records, arguing it was improper oversight.

The Supreme Court overturned that injunction in a 6-3 decision, siding with the Trump administration and ruling that the executive branch has every right to monitor its own agencies. According to Smith, “How on earth can any Article III court tell the president that he lacks the authority to send his own federal government employees… to conduct an audit of the executive branch?” He called the ruling a “no-brainer” and a decisive check against judicial overreach.

Discovery Limits Reinforced in Second SCOTUS Case

The second major win for Trump came in U.S. Doge Service v. CREW, where outside groups had been seeking discovery into internal communications between Trump, his cabinet, and Doge officials. The district court had originally allowed these discovery requests under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), but the Supreme Court shut that down.

Smith summarized the Court’s ruling as protecting internal executive branch communications from what he called a “fishing expedition.” The Court wrote that internal recommendations and decisions could not be subject to FOIA discovery in this context and that separation of powers demands restraint when it comes to investigating the presidency. According to Smith, the 6-3 decision was another clear message that Trump’s authority in the executive branch is not to be second-guessed by the judiciary.

Why Did the Supreme Court Delay the AR-15 Ruling?

Smith’s most provocative claim came near the end of his video. He argued that the Supreme Court likely delayed issuing a decision in the major Second Amendment case involving AR-15 bans because it’s already spending its “political capital” on these Trump wins. In Smith’s words: “They know there’s a lot of rulings for Donald Trump in the next several months… and they don’t want to spend it all at once.”

That’s a major concern for gun rights advocates. As Smith explained on X, the AR-15 ruling – expected to challenge the constitutionality of assault weapon bans – could have huge implications for over 100 million American gun owners. But for now, it’s been left on the Court’s shelf.

A Frustrating Wait for 2A Defenders

From a gun rights perspective, this delay is maddening. The Second Amendment is often treated like the “third rail” of American politics – important enough to spark outrage but too controversial for courts to tackle head-on unless they absolutely have to. It seems that even with a conservative-leaning Court, the justices are still cautious, timing their rulings based on broader political strategy.

Smith believes this isn’t a betrayal, but a tactical pause. He remains optimistic that the Court will eventually strike down AR-15 bans. Still, it’s hard not to feel like 2A cases get held to a different standard. In a term full of bold rulings, why should the rights of millions of lawful gun owners have to wait?

DC Circuit Win Over Associated Press

In a separate but equally telling case, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit handed Trump another win – this time against the Associated Press. According to Smith’s follow-up video, the court upheld Trump’s decision to block the AP from attending events in the Oval Office, Air Force One, and Mar-a-Lago.

The reason? Trump said the AP refused to use the term “Gulf of America” instead of “Gulf of Mexico” in its reporting. The district court called it “viewpoint discrimination” and ruled for the AP. But the D.C. Circuit reversed that ruling in a 2-1 decision.

Private Spaces, Presidential Discretion

Smith explained that the court saw the Oval Office and Air Force One as limited, quasi-private spaces, not public forums like Central Park or a town hall. The president, they said, has the right to decide who gets access to those areas, even based on viewpoint.

In a colorful moment, the court wrote that “The Associated Press wants to be in the room where it happens,” referencing the Broadway musical Hamilton. Smith, who served as a Tony Award voter, chuckled at the coincidence. But he stressed the ruling’s seriousness: “Just because the AP wants access doesn’t mean they have a constitutional right to it.”

Press Freedoms vs. Executive Control

The Court acknowledged that while press freedoms are important, they don’t override the president’s authority in private settings. There are over 1,000 members of the White House press pool with hard passes, but not all can fit into a press room, let alone the Oval Office. Some level of selectivity is unavoidable – and not unconstitutional.

This ruling sets a clear precedent: presidents can play favorites with media access, especially in private settings. That may upset legacy media, but Smith believes it’s justified. “You break it, you buy it,” he said, blaming the press for years of anti-Trump bias that he says eroded their credibility.

Trump’s Strategy: Control the Narrative

These courtroom victories show how Trump is regaining control of the narrative – legally and politically. Smith noted that whether it’s overseeing fraud investigations or choosing which reporters get access, Trump is reclaiming the reins of executive power.

And these aren’t isolated wins. With a conservative Supreme Court and key appellate courts on his side, Trump appears to be stacking up rulings that reinforce his constitutional role and authority, while weakening what Smith calls “deep state” resistance.

The Long Game for Gun Owners

For those in the Second Amendment community, these wins are bittersweet. On one hand, Trump’s legal momentum is good news for gun rights down the road. As Smith pointed out, a strong executive branch means there’s more opportunity to roll back gun control measures like the National Firearms Act or suppressor restrictions.

But in the short term, it’s hard not to feel sidelined. If SCOTUS is saving its energy for executive power rulings, when will it come back to the Second Amendment? The longer they wait, the more gun bans get enforced, and the more rights get lost in the legal shuffle.

Looking Ahead: What Comes Next?

Smith hinted at more rulings coming soon – and he believes many of them will favor Trump. That could pave the way for broader Second Amendment reforms once the political climate settles. “When Donald Trump wins, I think we win,” he said.

But until that AR-15 ruling lands, the Second Amendment remains in limbo. Trump’s victories may be reshaping presidential authority – but for millions of gun owners, the real question remains: when will the Court finally speak on the right to bear America’s most popular rifle?