President Trump said he does not plan to ask his candidates to fill the vacancy on the Supreme Court whether they would vote to overturn Roe v. Wade.
[Opinion: Imagining how overturning Roe v. Wade would transform US politics]
During an interview with Fox News set to air Sunday, Trump was asked if he plans to ask his prospective nominees about the 1973 landmark abortion case.
“Probably not,” Trump told Fox News in an interview to be aired Sunday. “They’re all saying, ‘Don’t do that. You don’t do that. You shouldn’t do that,’ but I’m putting conservative people on.”
In an exclusive interview with @MariaBartiromo for @SundayFutures, @POTUS says he would “probably not” ask Supreme Court justice candidates if they would vote to overturn Roe v. Wade.
Tune in Sunday at 10a ET on Fox News Channel! pic.twitter.com/qaBtiHvmqt
— Fox News (@FoxNews) June 29, 2018
Justice Anthony Kennedy’s retirement from the Supreme Court, effective July 31, sets Trump up to nominate his second justice in as many years.
Trump named Justice Neil Gorsuch to fill the late Justice Antonin Scalia’s seat last year.
Kennedy’s retirement has left Democrats and liberal groups fretting about the future of abortion rights in the country, as the court, with a second Trump-appointed justice, will shift to the right.
Trump said he intends to select a nominee to the Supreme Court who is similar to Gorsuch, whose first full term on the court he praised.
“I’m very proud of Neil Gorsuch. He has been outstanding,” Trump said. “His opinions are so well-written, so brilliant. I’m going to try and do something like that, but I don’t think I’m going to be so specific.”
