President Trump said he is “prepared” to nominate another Supreme Court justice if an opening emerges, a remark that is already fueling renewed speculation about potential retirements among the court’s oldest members.
No justice has indicated plans to step down from a lifetime appointment. Still, attention has increasingly turned to Justice Samuel Alito, 76, who was hospitalized in March, as well as Justice Clarence Thomas, 77, the court’s two oldest conservatives.
“It could be two, could be three, could be one. I don’t know — I’m prepared to do it,” Trump told Fox Business’s Maria Bartiromo in an interview that aired Wednesday.
The president singled out Alito for praise, calling him “one of the great justices of all time.”
“Justice Alito is an unbelievable justice and a brilliant justice and he gets the country,” Trump said. “He does what’s right for the country.”
While Trump acknowledged he is unsure whether a vacancy will arise this year, he said he is already considering potential nominees. Reports have suggested Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) is among those on his shortlist, though Trump did not confirm specific names in the interview.
Any opening would carry major political stakes. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) said this week that Republicans would be prepared to move quickly to confirm a nominee if a vacancy occurs before the midterm elections, according to Politico. With the GOP currently holding the Senate, confirming a justice before that balance potentially shifts would be a priority.
Trump also pointed to the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg as a cautionary example in discussions about timing a retirement. Ginsburg declined calls to step down during former President Obama’s second term, when Democrats controlled the Senate, and remained on the bench until her death in 2020 at age 87. Her passing allowed Trump to nominate Justice Amy Coney Barrett, solidifying a conservative majority on the court.
“She decided that she was going to live forever, and about two minutes after the election, she went out and I got to appoint somebody,” Trump said. “So, you know, you make the case that at a certain time you give it up … so that your ideology, your policies, your everything, would be of the kind that we like.”
For now, no vacancy is imminent. But Trump’s comments underscore how quickly the conversation can shift — and how closely Washington is watching the court’s senior members for any sign of change.
