President Donald Trump is once again floating Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) as a potential Supreme Court justice, suggesting the Republican senator could accomplish something almost unheard of in Washington: winning unanimous support from both parties.
But according to Trump, that bipartisan agreement might have less to do with Cruz’s legal credentials than his colleagues’ eagerness to see him leave the Senate.
Speaking Tuesday at a midterm campaign rally in Lubbock, Texas, Trump revisited the possibility of nominating Cruz to the nation’s highest court, praising the senator’s qualifications while delivering a few jokes at his expense.
“I would pick Ted Cruz to be the next Supreme Court justice,” Trump told the crowd, according to a transcript of his remarks published by Roll Call’s Factbase.
The president then explained why he believed the nomination would sail through Congress.
“The Democrats will 100% vote for it because they hate the guy, and they want to get rid of him,” Trump joked.
“And the Republicans would 100% vote for it because they can’t stand him,” he continued.
Trump predicted he would secure every vote in the Senate before adding that Cruz would do an excellent job on the bench.
Trump Praises Cruz’s Legal Credentials
Despite the playful criticism, Trump made clear that he considers Cruz exceptionally qualified for the Supreme Court.
The president described the Texas senator as a “brilliant lawyer” with outstanding academic and professional credentials.
Trump also recalled the difficult confirmation battles surrounding his three Supreme Court appointments during his first administration: Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett.
The president suggested Cruz could offer a surprisingly simple solution if another vacancy emerged.
“So if we ever have a situation and I’m having a little problem with approval, we’ll just put Ted,” Trump said.
According to Fox News Digital’s coverage of the rally, Trump later praised Cruz as a friend and political ally despite their contentious rivalry during the 2016 Republican presidential primary.
The president’s comments did not constitute a formal nomination, and there is currently no vacancy on the Supreme Court.
Cruz Has Repeatedly Turned Trump Down
While Trump’s remarks drew laughter from supporters, the possibility of Cruz joining the Supreme Court is not entirely hypothetical.
During an April interview hosted by The Wall Street Journal, Cruz revealed that Trump had seriously discussed nominating him to the court during his first administration.
The senator said he rejected the opportunity each time.
“In the first Trump term, the president spoke to me seriously about all three vacancies, and three times I said no, because I don’t want to be out of the arena of the political battle,” Cruz explained.
Cruz has argued that serving as a federal judge would require him to step away from the political and policy disputes he prefers to confront directly.
“I don’t want to be a judge,” Cruz said during the April event, according to RSBN’s reporting. He explained that judges should remain outside political battles, while he wants to remain involved in them.
The Texas Republican nevertheless has considerable legal experience.
Before entering the Senate, Cruz served as Texas solicitor general and clerked for former Supreme Court Chief Justice William Rehnquist. He also argued cases before the nation’s highest court, according to the Houston Chronicle.
A Familiar Proposal Returns
Tuesday’s comments were not the first time Trump has raised the prospect of a Cruz nomination.
The president made similar remarks during a Texas appearance in February and again during a July White House event promoting Trump Accounts.
The recurring suggestion has become something of a running joke between the two Republicans, combining Trump’s praise for Cruz’s legal abilities with pointed humor about the senator’s relationships on Capitol Hill.
The renewed speculation comes as Trump campaigns for Republican candidates ahead of the November 3 midterm elections.
For now, Cruz appears determined to remain in the Senate rather than accept a lifetime appointment to the Supreme Court.
But Trump has made one thing clear: If another Supreme Court seat opens during his presidency, Cruz remains a name he is willing to put forward.
