President Trump celebrated the number of conservative federal judges his administration has appointed to federal courts across the country.
“Now up to 187 Federal Judges, and two great new Supreme Court Justices,” Trump tweeted in the early hours of Wednesday morning. “We are in major record territory. Hope EVERYONE is happy!”
Now up to 187 Federal Judges, and two great new Supreme Court Justices. We are in major record territory. Hope EVERYONE is happy! https://t.co/ymEQljJyib
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 15, 2020
Along with his tweet, Trump promoted a video from Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, laying out how the Republican-controlled Senate has added 50 circuit court judges during his tenure.
“Mitch McConnell is giving the nation’s courts a face-lift,” the video boasts.
In lockstep with Trump, McConnell has made retaining a conservative majority on federal courts across the country a key element of his agenda as Senate leader. The right-leaning justices, Republicans hope, will aid Trump’s political efforts on border security, religious freedom, and redistricting in key election states.
In late 2018, Trump nominated Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh for consideration to the Supreme Court. Democrats fought to keep Kavanaugh off the court based on accusations of sexual misconduct, sparking a bitter partisan battle that dominated headlines for weeks before his eventual confirmation.
Trump called the effort to block Kavanaugh from the court “disgraceful.”
After watching the disgraceful way that a wonderful man, @BrettKavanaugh, was treated by the Democrats, and now seeing first hand how these same Radical Left, Do Nothing Dems are treating the whole Impeachment Hoax, I understand why so many Dems are voting Republican!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 14, 2019
Democrats have been quick to criticize McConnell for blocking the nomination of former President Barack Obama’s last Supreme Court pick Merrick Garland in 2016. McConnell, at the time, said it would be inappropriate for the Senate to consider a judicial nominee in an election year and that “the American people should have a say in the court’s direction.”
Obama successfully added 50 judges to federal courts during his eight years in office, according to the Washington Post.
“In less than three years, President Trump has appointed and the Republican Senate has confirmed 50 circuit judges,” McConnell said. “That is already the most in any president’s whole first term since 1980.”
