Trump says he’s ready to nominate up to three Supreme Court justices
President Donald Trump said Wednesday he is “prepared” to nominate another Supreme Court justice to the bench, should a vacancy arise.
No justice has publicly announced plans to step down. However, speculation about Justice Samuel Alito, 76, who was hospitalized in March, persists.
Trump said he had a short list of candidates ready to go, but wasn’t sure whether there would be any changes to the nine members of the court before the end of the year.
“I don’t know,” the president told Fox Business’s Maria Bartiromo in an interview that aired Wednesday. “Justice Alito is in very good physical health, as you mentioned his name.”
Trump said the Democrats made a mistake with Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
“You make the case at a certain time that you give it up so you can have a justice … [with] your ideology, your policies … but it’s probably not easy to give up for people. Ginsburg could not do it.”
Trump said that, in theory, he could have up to three more picks before the end of his term.
“It could be two, could be three, could be one. I don’t know, I’m prepared to do it,” Trump said.
Trump went on to praise Alito’s leadership on the court.
Trump appointed three justices in his first term: Neil Gorsuch in 2017, Brett Kavanaugh in 2018, and Amy Coney Barrett in 2020 after Ginsburg’s death. Ginsburg died 46 days before the November 2020 election, which President Joe Biden won.
The Supreme Court currently has a 6-3 conservative majority, but as Trump has repeatedly noted, they don’t always vote together on key issues.
Trump was frustrated with the high court’s decision in the tariffs case. In February, a divided court found the president exceeded his authority by imposing billions of dollars in tariffs.
Conservative Justices Barrett and Gorsuch joined liberal Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan, and Kentanji Brown Jackson, along with Chief Justice John Roberts, in the majority opinion. Justices Clarence Thomas, Kavanaugh, and Alito dissented.
After that ruling, Trump publicly ridiculed Gorsuch and Coney Barrett.
“Two of the people that voted for that, I appointed, and they sicken me,” Trump said. “They sicken me because they’re bad for our country.”
Hours after the high court’s tariff ruling, Trump imposed a 10% global entry tariff, which states and small businesses have since challenged.
Trump has also publicly fretted about how the Supreme Court will rule on a case involving his executive order on birthright citizenship.
On the first day of his second term, Trump signed an order denying citizenship to children born in the U.S. unless a parent is a U.S. citizen or green card holder. Several states challenged the order, and four federal judges have blocked it.
The Supreme Court heard oral arguments in that case on April 1. A ruling is expected by summer and could significantly impact U.S. immigration.
Mostly Cloudy then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Latest News Stories
County Sales Tax Revenues Strong, Cannabis Funds Dispersed to Community Programs
Illinois sports wagers decline after implementation of new tax
Will County Committee Grants Extensions for Crete, Washington Township Solar Projects
Competing crypto plans create ‘narrow path’ for adoption
Congress used government funding bill to ‘erase’ $3.4 trillion in deficits
Illinois patient relies on ACA tax credits, experts warn they drive higher premiums
Trump rolls back tariffs on over 200 foods in sharp reversal
Trump says $2,000 tariff rebate checks won’t come before Christmas
Chicago mayor threatens layoffs, property tax hikes if council rejects head tax
Goldwater Institute sues Arizona attorney general for records
Illinois quick hits: Four officers injured during ICE protest
California asks court to end federalization of National Guard
