Trump confidant Chris Ruddy wants the president to make a deal with Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on her retirement.
Ruddy, the CEO of Newsmax, suggests Trump nominate President Obama’s pick Merrick Garland to the Supreme Court if Ginsburg retires.
“I think that he still should pick Merrick Garland and do a deal. Ruth Bader Ginsburg wants to retire, and I think they should swap her out, give her an offer where they would put Merrick Garland on the Supreme Court,” he told Business Insider.
“They would remove a very liberal Democrat with a moderate, consensus Democrat, who I think Garland is,” he said. “And I think it would be a huge move and a sign for Trump that he’s willing to break through the political ice.”
Trump could then replace Justice Anthony Kennedy, who is rumored to be considering retirement, with a more conservative pick, Ruddy said.
Ruddy was opposed to Senate Republicans’ decision to invoke the “nuclear option” to confirm Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court seat left vacant by the death of Justice Antonin Scalia in 2016.
“I think they made a big mistake by pulling the nuclear option,” he said.
