Axios is reporting a fairly interesting interview with President Trump in which he’s boldly predicting a full four appointments to the Supreme Court…in his first term alone.
Having already appointed Justice Gorsuch to the Court with no small degree of political maneuvering in the Senate, the question concerns the additional three.
The most obvious is Justice Kennedy whose retirement was rumored almost immediately after Trump’s inauguration.
The second is nearly as obvious with Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg — easily the most liberal on the bench — who has been battling major health issues for at least a decade and, thus, probably would have retired had Hillary won the election.
But the third is a bit of a surprise. One might guess Justice Stephen Breyer who, at 79, is the third oldest member on the Court. And that guess would be wrong.
According to Trump, Sotomayor, though only 63, has been battling diabetes since childhood. Trump apparently believes that will be her undoing.
If he’s right, and if he wins reelection in 2020, he may have an opportunity to appoint a majority of the Court before he’s done.
The last time that happened was under President Eisenhower, more than half a century ago.
Here’s more from Newsmax…
President Donald Trump predicted he would appoint a total of four Supreme Court justices by the end of his first term, Axios reported Sunday.
Sources who had spoken to the president about the possibility told the online news media company it was “all about the numbers for him.”
One source said Trump mentioned he had already replaced the seat left vacant when Antonin Scalia died early last year, nominating Neil Gorsuch to the position. When asked who the second justice he thought would leave, Trump mentioned rumors Justice Anthony Kennedy would retire.
The third justice the president thought would leave was Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, according to the source.
“Ginsburg,” Trump reportedly said. “What does she weigh? Sixty pounds?” And the fourth justice Trump predicted would leave the Supreme Court was Justice Sonia Sotomayor.
“Sotomayor,” Trump told the source, referring to the justice appointed by former President Barack Obama in 2009.
“Her health,” Trump explained. “No good. Diabetes.”
