Trump vows to remove Lisa Cook despite Supreme Court ruling: 'By winning the case'

WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump on Thursday, July 2, said he remains committed to removing Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook despite the Supreme Court's recent decision allowing her to remain on the central bank's board while her legal challenge continues.

Speaking in an interview with CNBC, Trump argued the justices had ruled only on procedural grounds and said his administration would restart the legal process. The comments come days after the Supreme Court temporarily blocked Cook's dismissal while leaving open the possibility that the issue could return to the courts.

Donald Trump says he'll remove Lisa Cook 'by winning the case'

Trump said he believes his administration can still remove Cook through the courts, arguing the Supreme Court did not rule on whether she could ultimately be dismissed. The president insisted his administration would ultimately remove Cook "by winning the case," arguing the Supreme Court's ruling was based on procedure rather than the merits.

"They sent it back, not based on the merits; they sent it back on process and procedure," Trump said. "So we'll start the process and we'll do perfect process and perfect procedure."

The president also described the broader Supreme Court decision expanding presidential authority over officials at independent agencies as one of the court's most significant rulings in decades. "There are those that say this is one of the biggest decisions handed down in decades, bigger than birthright citizenship, bigger than anything."

Trump has sought to remove Cook over allegations of mortgage fraud raised by Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Bill Pulte. Cook has denied wrongdoing and has challenged her dismissal in federal court.

Supreme Court lets Lisa Cook remain in office while lawsuit continues

The Supreme Court on Monday, May 29, ruled 5-4 that Cook may remain on the Federal Reserve Board while her lawsuit challenging Trump's attempt to remove her proceeds through the courts.

Writing for the majority, Chief Justice John Roberts said Cook must first be allowed to respond to the allegations against her before any final decision is made. "Only after Cook has had the opportunity to respond to the charges made against her may a final decision be made," Roberts wrote. 

The ruling did not permanently block Trump's effort to remove Cook; instead, it allows her to remain in office while the courts determine whether the president has the legal authority to dismiss a sitting Federal Reserve governor under the circumstances.

Cook, who was nominated to the Federal Reserve Board by former President Joe Biden, welcomed the ruling and said the case was about preserving the independence of the central bank.

"This was never about mortgage documents signed years before I became a Federal Reserve governor. It was an attempt to remove me on a manufactured pretext because I refused to bow to political pressure," Cook said after the decision.