President Donald Trump has named three people to the U.S. Supreme Court during his one-and-a-half terms in office.
And it’s possible that, given the age of some of the current justices, he would have the opportunity to name a fourth justice to the nation’s highest court. The question is, who would it be?
The president himself gave everyone a big hint on Monday.
Trump joked during a White House ceremony that Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, should be nominated to the U.S. Supreme Court, quipping that lawmakers in both parties would quickly vote to confirm him because they would be eager to see him leave the Senate.
Trump made the remarks Monday during the official launch of the Trump Accounts program, a savings initiative championed by Cruz that was included in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
The president praised Cruz’s legal abilities before jokingly suggesting he would make a strong Supreme Court justice, adding a lighthearted remark that drew laughter from those in attendance.
“In fact, somebody said, ‘Would you ever appoint him to the United States Supreme Court?’ Because he’s a brilliant lawyer, Ted. I said, ‘Well, he’s the only one I can think of that’s going to get 100 votes,’” Trump said, per the Washington Examiner.
“All Republicans will vote for him, all Democrats will vote for him, because they want to get him the h*** out of the Senate,” Trump said, drawing laughter from those in the Oval.
“If I was having a hard time with getting the votes, I would appoint Ted Cruz. I’d get 100%, guaranteed,” the president added.
There is currently no vacancy on the U.S. Supreme Court. All nine justices remain on the bench, and neither Justice Clarence Thomas nor Justice Samuel Alito has publicly indicated plans to retire.
Still, speculation about a potential future opening has continued since Trump returned to office.
During his first term, Trump appointed Justices Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett to the high court.
The speculation intensified after NPR published a report on June 30 claiming that Alito planned to retire.
The Supreme Court said no such announcement had been made, and NPR later retracted the story.
The episode renewed discussion about whom Trump might nominate if a vacancy arises.
White House officials confirmed to the Washington Examiner last week that the president has already assembled a shortlist of potential Supreme Court nominees but declined to identify any of the individuals under consideration.
Trump’s remarks also reflected the long political history between the two Republicans.
During the 2016 Republican presidential primary, Cruz sharply criticized Trump’s approach to judicial nominations, including through a South Carolina campaign advertisement that questioned whether Trump could be trusted to make Supreme Court appointments.
The ad featured a 1999 interview with journalist Tim Russert in which Trump described himself as “pro-choice in every respect.”
Since then, the relationship between the two men has changed considerably.
During his first term, Trump appointed three Supreme Court justices—the most by any president in a single term since President Ronald Reagan—while Cruz emerged as one of the administration’s strongest allies in the Senate.
Although the two were once bitter primary rivals, their relationship has evolved into a close political partnership marked by occasional public humor and friendly exchanges.
Trump’s introduction of Cruz at the event was generous. “He’s done a wonderful job as a senator, highly respected,” the president said.
Cruz, a former law clerk at the U.S. Supreme Court, argued nine cases before the high court while serving as Texas solicitor general.
His legal credentials have made him a frequent subject of speculation whenever potential Supreme Court vacancies are discussed.
At the same time, Cruz has long been one of the Senate’s most polarizing figures.
Democrats have viewed him as one of the chamber’s most prominent conservative voices, while some Republican colleagues have, at times, expressed frustration with his aggressive legislative tactics and approach.
This article may contain commentary which reflects the author’s opinion.
