Trump reveals he has multi-pick SCOTUS plan ready as retirement speculation heats up
Speculation about the 76-year-old justice's retirement has grown amid concerns about the GOP Senate majority before midterms
By Ashley Oliver Fox News
Published April 15, 2026 2:09pm EDT
President Donald Trump said he is "prepared" to appoint up to three Supreme Court justices if vacancies arise, signaling he is ready to further reshape the high court as speculation swirls around a potential retirement from Justice Samuel Alito.
Trump told Fox Business' Maria Bartiromo that Alito, an appointee of former President George W. Bush, could retire and that he has a shortlist of nominees in mind, though he did not mention any names.
The remarks sharpen the stakes around any potential vacancy, as Trump signaled he is ready to seize the opportunity to deepen the court’s conservative majority. With retirement speculation around Alito intensifying and Republicans eyeing the window before the 2026 midterms, the prospect of an opening is already putting fresh focus on succession politics.
"In theory, it's two — you just read the statistics — it could be two, could be three, could be one," Trump said. "I don't know. I'm prepared to do it. But when you mention Alito, he is a great justice."
excerpt:
Senate Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, told reporters this week he would recommend Sens. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, or Mike Lee, R-Utah, as top candidates if Alito were to retire. Grassley emphasized that he hoped Alito would not step down but said his committee is "fully prepared" to process a nominee before the upcoming midterm elections if needed.
Cruz said in a statement provided to Fox News Digital that having his name in the mix was a "high honor" but that he did not want the job.
"The reason I've said no is that a principled federal judge stays out of policy fights and stays out of political fights. ... But I don't want to stay out of policy fights. I don't want to stay out of political fights," Cruz said. "I want to be right in the middle of them."
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