President Donald Trump on Thursday asked the Supreme Court to allow him to fire Federal Trade Commission commissioner Rebecca Slaughter , who lower courts ordered reinstated after he terminated her.

Trump wants the Supreme Court to pause her reinstatement as he appeals the case.

"President Trump acted lawfully when he removed Rebecca Slaughter from the FTC," White House spokesman Kush Desai said in a statement.

"Indeed, the Supreme Court has twice in the last few months confirmed the President's authority to remove the heads of executive agencies," Desai said. "We look forward to being vindicated for a third time — and hopefully after this ruling, the lower courts will cease their defiance of Supreme Court orders."

Trump in March removed Slaughter and another Democratic commiss

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