Trump Floats Three Powerful Conservatives as Possible Supreme Court Picks

Drawing attention to one of the most important aspects of any election, President Donald Trump this week announced his updated list of Supreme Court nominees – the list he vows to draw from if a spot comes open on the nation’s highest court.

Trump, who already proved his commitment to putting principled conservatives on the Supreme Court with his nominations of Neil Gorsuch and Bret Kavanaugh during his first term, said Wednesday that he would be honored to consider several new candidates. Among them? Three powerful and popular conservatives: Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas, Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri, and Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas.

“Every one of these individuals will ensure equal justice, equal treatment, and equal rights for citizens of every race, color, religion, and creed,” said Trump. “Together, we will defend our righteous heritage and preserve our magnificent American way of life.”

All three sitting senators proposed for a position on the Supreme Court gave public remarks about the honor – with some of them more excited than others.

“I appreciate the President’s confidence in listing me as a potential Supreme Court nominee. But as I told the President, Missourians elected me to fight for them in the Senate, and I have no interest in the high court. I look forward to confirming constitutional conservatives,” said Hawley.

“I am grateful for the president’s confidence in me and for his leadership in nominating principled constitutionalists to the federal bench over the last four years,” said Cruz. “As a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, I’ve been proud to help confirm to the bench over 200 of President Trump’s judicial nominees, including two to the Supreme Court.

“It’s humbling and an immense honor to be considered for the Supreme Court,” he continued. “The High Court plays a unique role in defending our Constitution, and there is no greater responsibility in public service than to support and defend the Constitution of the United States. In the Senate, I have been blessed to lead the fight to preserve our constitutional liberties—every day, to defend the rights of 29 million Texans—and I look forward to continuing to do so for many years to come.”

If Cruz and Hawley seem to be looking at a Supreme Court nomination as a derailment of their political fortunes, Sen. Cotton seemed intrigued by the idea.

“I’m honored that President Trump asked me to consider serving on the Supreme Court and I’m grateful for his confidence. I will always heed the call of service to our nation. The Supreme Court could use some more justices who understand the difference between applying the law and making the law, which the Court does when it invents a right to an abortion, infringes on religious freedom, and erodes the Second Amendment,” he said.

Amen to that.