President Donald J. Trump expressed hope that U.S. Supreme Court Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito remain on the bench during an interview released on Tuesday.
In the remarks, Trump stated: “Well, I hope they stay, ’cause I think they’re fantastic, OK? Both of those men are fantastic.”
The Supreme Court currently holds a 6-3 conservative majority, which includes three justices—Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrett—appointed by President Trump during his first term. This bloc has played a pivotal role in shaping U.S. policies through rulings on immigration enforcement and federal agency reforms.
Speculation about retirements has surfaced for both Justice Thomas (77) and Justice Alito (75), but neither has announced plans to step down. Sources close to Justice Alito have indicated that his judicial decisions are not politically motivated.
Justice Thomas, the longest-serving member of the current court, was nominated by former President George H. W. Bush in 1991. Justice Alito joined the Supreme Court in 2006 after being nominated by former President George W. Bush. Historically, justices such as Stephen Breyer, Anthony Kennedy, and John Paul Stevens have served well into their eighties before retiring.
Trump also criticized Democratic efforts to expand the Supreme Court, saying: “I will say this, the Democrats want to pack the court. They want to have 21 justices. That would be a terrible thing for this country.”
