Federal judges across the country have flexed their authority at President Donald Trump as he moves to rapidly reshape the government, leading some to question what would happen if the judiciary and executive branches reached a stalemate.

As the Supreme Court has explained, it is a “basic proposition that all orders and judgments of courts must be complied with promptly.” Courts can — and often do — step in when their rulings are defied.

President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance and Elon Musk are not exactly downplaying the possibility of ignoring court orders that stand in their way.