'Freedom is at risk': Retired GOP Supreme Court justice blasts MAGA's attacks on judiciary

Former Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy — who was appointed by President Ronald Reagan — cautioned Thursday that the increasing hostility in America’s political discourse and direct threats against judges are putting the nation’s freedoms in jeopardy.

Speaking during an online forum focused on the rule of law, Kennedy warned that democracy in the United States is at risk.

“Many in the rest of the world look to the United States to see what democracy is, to see what democracy ought to be.… If they see a hostile, fractious discourse, if they see a discourse that uses identity politics rather than to talk about issues, democracy is at risk. Freedom is at risk," he said.

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Kennedy spoke for approximately 10 minutes during a broader series of judicial discussions.

This warning from Kennedy, who retired in 2018, came amid escalating tension between the executive branch and the judiciary, especially following fierce attacks on courts by President Donald Trump.

The president has labelled judges “radical” and “evil,” and even called for impeachment proceedings against those whose rulings blocked his policies.

Kennedy urged that protecting judicial independence is critical not only for upholding the rule of law but also for maintaining America’s standing as a model of democracy internationally. Without it, he warned, the very foundations of freedom are at risk.

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Over the Middle East conflict, however, Kennedy, appeared to indirectly praise the president.

"The world is celebrating what looks like, what we hope might be, peace for a period of time in the Middle East,” he said, adding that “Peace is what gives us the opportunity to make democracy stronger, to make freedom more attainable, to make freedom greater for ourselves and the rest of the world. We must always say no to tyranny and yes to truth.”