Trump on Air Force One to Rome: 'Sanctuary Cities Are Sanctuary for Criminals' — Judges Want 'Millions of Trials' (April 25, 2025)

Flying to Rome for Pope Francis’ funeral, President Donald Trump took aim at the judges blocking his deportations. “We’re having a very hard time with judges because they don’t want people to be moved out of the country,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One on April 25, 2025, according to the transcript published by the American Presidency Project [1].

“And these are judges that just want to, you know, show how big and important they are,” he said [1].

The video above shows Trump’s exchange with reporters on the way to Rome on April 25, 2025. Quotes are from the American Presidency Project and the Supreme Court [1][2][3][4].

”Out of Respect”

Asked why he was going to the funeral, Trump said: “I just thought it was out of respect.” [1]

“And you know, I have a great relationship to the Catholics,” he said, to laughter [1].

Before leaving the White House, Trump remembered the pope. “I met him twice. I thought he was a fantastic kind of a guy,” he said [2].

“And frankly, it’s a little disrespectful to have meetings when you’re at the funeral of a Pope,” Trump said of his plans in Rome [1].

Asked whether he would talk with former President Joe Biden there, Trump said: “Oh, he is? I didn’t know that. I mean, it’s not high on my list. It’s really not.” [1]

“Millions of Trials”

Trump said no president had faced judges like these. “There’s never been a time when this has ever become an issue, where they talk about due process—when you have millions of people that you’re moving out that are really bad people, very dangerous people, and you have a judge that wants every single one of them to have a trial,” he said [1].

“So they want us to have millions of trials, therefore,” Trump said. “That’s not what our country is about, and that’s not what I got elected on.” [1]

He said “we have hundreds of thousands of people that we want to get out of the country, and the courts are holding us back.” [1]

“Some judge that nobody ever heard of is holding us back,” Trump said [1].

“The wall is solved. The border is the most secure it’s ever been,” he said [1].

”Sanctuary for Criminals”

Asked about a San Francisco judge’s nationwide order protecting funds for sanctuary cities, Trump said: “Well, it’s unbelievable when you hear a judge in San Francisco or a judge in San Diego does nationwide injunctions having to do with the whole country.” [1]

“We shouldn’t have sanctuary cities. And we’ll see how that turns out. But sanctuary cities are sanctuary for criminals,” he said [1].

“If we want a safe country, you have to get rid of sanctuary cities,” Trump said [1].

”Good for Humanity”

On Iran, Trump said: “I’d much rather have a deal than the other alternative. And it’d be good for humanity.” [1]

“One thing: They just can’t have a nuclear weapon,” he said. “We’re dealing at the highest levels of Iran, and I think they want to make a deal, and we want to make a deal.” [1]

Recalling a talk with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about aid, Trump said “we got to be good to Gaza.” He added: “There’s a very big need for medicine—food and medicine, and we’re taking care of it.” [1]

On India and Pakistan, after a deadly attack in Kashmir, Trump said: “Well, I’m very close to India, and I’m very close to Pakistan, as you know.” He added: “But they’ll get it figured out one way or the other.” [1]

“Dinner on Air Force One”

On trade, Trump said: “In other words, we’ll just set the tariff, and we’ll be reasonable—very reasonable, and that will be the end. That’s the deal.” [1]

Asked about the Texas Senate primary, he said: “Well, they’re both friends of mine. I like them both. In a way, I wish they weren’t running against each other.” [1]

“Opening up China would be a big win, right? The problem is, no matter how big the win is, the press will not give me credit for it,” Trump said [1].

And for first lady Melania Trump’s birthday, he joked: “I’ll take her for dinner on Air Force One.” [1]

By the Numbers

56 percent: Trump’s share of the Catholic vote, per Trump [1].
2: times Trump met Pope Francis, per Trump [2].
5,000: young men a week Trump wants to save by ending the Russia-Ukraine war, per Trump [2].

What Happened Next

India and Pakistan stood down. “After a long night of talks mediated by the United States, I am pleased to announce that India and Pakistan have agreed to a FULL AND IMMEDIATE CEASEFIRE,” Trump posted on May 10, 2025. “Congratulations to both Countries on using Common Sense and Great Intelligence.” [3]

The Supreme Court reined in nationwide injunctions. On June 27, 2025, in Trump v. CASA, the Court wrote: “But federal courts do not exercise general oversight of the Executive Branch; they resolve cases and controversies consistent with the authority Congress has given them.” [4]

“When a court concludes that the Executive Branch has acted unlawfully, the answer is not for the court to exceed its power, too,” the Court said [4].

For Trump at the funeral the next day, see HYGO News’ page on April 26, 2025. For Republican senators on nationwide injunctions, see the page on April 2, 2025.