BEMIDJI, Minnesota — President Trump praised Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg after he learned of her death on Friday.
His comments came after a campaign event in Minnesota during which he did not seem to be aware of her passing.
“She just died? I didn’t know that,” Trump told a press pool after his event. “She led an amazing life. What else can you say? Whether you agree or not […] she led an amazing life.”
Ginsburg died Friday surrounded by loved ones from metastatic pancreatic cancer complications.
“Renowned for her brilliant mind and her powerful dissents at the Supreme Court, Justice Ginsburg demonstrated that one can disagree without being disagreeable toward one’s colleagues or different points of view,” Trump later said in a statement.
Statement from the President on the Passing of Supreme Court Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg pic.twitter.com/N2YkGVWLoF
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 19, 2020
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said the Senate will vote on whomever Trump nominates for the high court this session.
“President Trump’s nominee will receive a vote on the floor of the United States Senate,” McConnell said in a statement.
Republicans control 53 votes and need 51 to confirm a nominee. Republican Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski said Friday she will oppose a new nominee until after Inauguration Day.
Trump announced a list of potential nominees on Sept. 9, but it remains unclear when he will nominate someone to the high court.
