'Astonishing': Critics aghast as Trump DOJ essentially tells judge to 'pound sound'

The White House issued a cheeky response to a federal judge who ordered the Trump administration to return a Maryland man mistakenly deported to El Salvador last month.

U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis ruled Friday that Kilmar Abrego Garcia's deportation was illegal and unconstitutional. Garcia was deported despite a 2019 court order protecting him from deportation to El Salvador due to fears of persecution. The judge ordered that Garcia be returned by 11:59 p.m. on Monday.

The Trump administration acknowledged that the deportation was made due to what it called an "administrative error," but the Justice Department has said that returning him is not in its control, as Garcia currently sits in Salvadoran custody.

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And on Friday afternoon, the White House appeared to scoff at the judge's order.

“We suggest the Judge contact President [Nayib] Bukele because we are unaware of the judge having jurisdiction or authority over the country of El Salvador," Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, told media outlets in a statement.

The curt response raised eyebrows on social media.

"The Trump White House says they can send anyone to a foreign gulag without due process and never bring them back - even if a judge orders it," Jon Favreau, host of Pod Save America, wrote on X.

"I’ve practiced as an Assistant AG of Massachusetts. If I had showed up in court and said this, I would expect to have been held in contempt and even taken into custody. I cannot understand why the court system refuses to treat these fascists the same way," replied Dave Cavell, head speechwriter for former Vice President Kamala Harris.

"Really astonishing. Caught doing something illegal and telling a judge to pound sand," wrote The Bulwark's Sam Stein on X.

"Wrongful deportations are not new. In most cases, ICE and/or the Department of Justice acknowledge the mistake and work with the person's lawyers and their home country to reverse the error to bring them back," wrote Aaron Reichlin-Melnick of the American Immigration Council