Full Breakdown
Trump Jokes About Nominating Sen. Ted Cruz to the Supreme Court
By Drooid · · How we work
In this breakdown
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Trump Proposes Cruz as a Supreme Court Nominee at a Texas Rally
At a campaign rally in Lubbock, Texas, on October 28, 2026, former President Donald Trump said he would nominate Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) to fill any future vacancy on the nation’s high court. Trump framed the suggestion as a way to avoid the “confirmation fight” that typically stalls Supreme Court appointments.
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Background & Context
Trump has previously appointed three justices—Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett—and has publicly expressed regret over those selections after they ruled against his administration. Cruz, a former solicitor general of Texas and Harvard Law graduate, has repeatedly stated he does not want to serve as a judge.
Visual evidence
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Official Statements & Responses
Trump’s rally remarks were presented as a tongue-in-cheek solution to Senate gridlock over Supreme Court nominations. He emphasized his past difficulty securing confirmations and suggested Cruz’s nomination would bypass partisan conflict.
Cruz responded that he has no interest in a judicial seat, reiterating his earlier comment that “I don’t want to be a judge.”
Justice Samuel Alito indicated in August 2026 that he intends to remain on the bench through at least the next session, leaving the timing of any vacancy—and thus any opportunity for Trump to act—uncertain.
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Verbatim Quotes
- “I said, 'I have an answer to not being able to get it past the Democrats or the Republicans together,'” — Caption Hide Caption Trump, president
- “I picked three Supreme Court justices, and it’s very hard to get them approved,” — Caption Hide Caption Trump, president
- “Went to law school, top student, everything, top credentials. I said, ‘I have an answer to not being able to get it past the Democrats or the Republicans together.’ I would pick Ted Cruz to be the next Supreme Court justice.” — Caption Hide Caption Trump, president
- “In the first Trump term, the president spoke to me seriously about all three vacancies, and three times I said no, because I don’t want to be out of the arena of the political battle,” — Ted Cruz
- “I don't want to be a judge,” — Ted Cruz
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What’s Next
If a Supreme Court seat opens before the end of Trump’s second term, the president could theoretically submit a nomination. However, Alito’s stated intention to stay on the Court suggests that a vacancy may not arise, leaving the speculation about a Cruz nomination unresolved.