Donald Trump said he is prepared to appoint up to three Supreme Court justices if vacancies open, and he named Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas as the kind of retirement rumors that would put that power to use. In an interview with Maria Bartiromo, Trump said he already has a shortlist in mind if either justice steps aside.
“In theory, it’s two — you just read the statistics — it could be two, could be three, could be one,” Trump said, adding, “I don’t know. I’m prepared to do it.” He also said, “But when you mention Alito, he is a great,” and later called Alito “an unbelievable justice, and a brilliant justice.”
The remarks landed while speculation about Alito’s future continues to swirl, driven by his age, his two-decade tenure on the bench and the possibility that a conservative successor could be confirmed by the current Republican-led Senate before the 2026 midterms. Alito is 76, Thomas is 77, and each could shape the court for years if a vacancy opens on Trump’s watch.
Alito’s health has also fed the chatter. He was treated last month for dehydration after becoming ill at a Federalist Society dinner, and a Supreme Court spokesperson said he was “thoroughly checked” before returning to the bench the following Monday.
The tension in Trump’s comments is that he is talking about a bench reshaping before any seat is actually open. He is signaling to conservatives that he is ready for the fight, while also making clear that the list — and the timeline — are already part of the political calculation.
If a vacancy emerges, the next move will not just be a nomination fight. It will be a race against the calendar, with the coming election cycle and the possibility of a reduced Republican majority hanging over the court’s future.
