President Donald Trump has suggested that he is considering conservative lawmaker and longtime political ally U.S. Senator Ted Cruz for a future appointment to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Speaking on Friday, February 27, during remarks on energy policy in Corpus Christi, Texas, Trump singled out Cruz, praising the senator’s legal credentials and political abilities.
The president said Cruz could be a strong candidate for a seat on the nation’s highest court if a vacancy were to arise.
“We have a senator who’s really an amazing guy, I’m thinking about putting him on the Supreme Court,” Trump told the audience. The remark drew applause from supporters attending the event.
Trump added that Cruz would be uniquely positioned to receive overwhelming backing in the Senate confirmation process, joking that lawmakers from both major parties would support the nomination.
“Getting these nominations through is very tough. He’s the only guy I know – he’ll get 100% of the Democrat vote, 100% of the Republican vote.”
The president said Democrats would support Cruz’s confirmation because they would want him out of the Senate, while Republicans would also back the nomination for similar reasons.
“They want him out of there, but he’s so good and so talented – Ted Cruz. That’s right, if we ever had a problem, I just picked Ted to sell that had solved that problem. He’s a great guy. He’s a very talented guy, too smart,” Trump added.
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The comments came as Trump made his speech on U.S. energy independence and production. Last month, the president also publicly floated the possibility of appointing Cruz to the Supreme Court.
Trump floats Supreme Court idea as Ted Cruz rejects
He praised the senator as a “brilliant legal mind” and suggested he would easily win Senate approval if nominated.
Trump joked at the time that lawmakers from both parties might unite behind Cruz’s nomination for the same reason.
“The Democrats will vote for him because they want to get him the hell out,” Trump said. “And the Republicans will vote for him because they want to get him the hell out, too.”
Despite Trump’s praise, Cruz has repeatedly indicated that he does not intend to pursue a position on the Supreme Court.
Appearing on the Ruthless podcast later the same day as Trump’s remarks in January, the conservative lawmaker said he was honored by the suggestion but firmly ruled out the possibility.
“My answer’s not just no, it’s hell no,” Cruz said.
The senator revealed that Trump had discussed potential Supreme Court vacancies with him several times during his first administration, including after the death of Justice Antonin Scalia in 2016.
Cruz said the prospect of succeeding Scalia was particularly significant to him because the late justice influenced constitutional law and conservative jurisprudence.
“I wrestled with it because I knew Justice Scalia and revered him,” he said. “And to have the opportunity to succeed him, I mean, talk about taking your breath away.”
Ultimately, Cruz said he decided against pursuing a judicial role because he prefers to remain active in legislative and political battles rather than serve in a position that requires neutrality.
Political career
The politician has served as a Republican senator representing Texas since 2013 and was re-elected in 2024 to a third term that runs through January 2031.
Before entering politics, he built an extensive legal career that supporters have often cited as evidence of his qualifications for the federal bench.
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He earned his undergraduate degree in public policy from Princeton University in 1992, followed by a law degree from Harvard Law School in 1995. After graduating, Cruz clerked for Chief Justice William Rehnquist and later worked at the U.S. Department of Justice.
From 2003 to 2008, he served as Texas’s solicitor general, becoming both the first Hispanic and the longest-serving person to hold the position. During his legal career, he argued nine cases before the Supreme Court.
In the Senate, Cruz currently chairs the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee and also serves on the Judiciary Committee, the Foreign Relations Committee, and the Rules and Administration Committee.
Supreme Court justices serve lifetime appointments once confirmed by the Senate. The current court includes Justice Clarence Thomas, the longest-serving and oldest member of the bench, known for his adherence to an originalist interpretation of the Constitution.
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