During his campaign rally in Moon Township, Pennsylvania on Tuesday, President Donald Trump reconfirmed that he would announce his Supreme Court nominee at 5:00 p.m. EST on Saturday.
“The decision will be announced on Saturday, 5:00 on Saturday at the White House,” Trump told his supporters, who immediately began chanting “Fill that Seat!”
President Trump jamming out to YMCA knowing we are going to FILL THAT SEAT is a huuuuge mood ???? pic.twitter.com/yJMG7uBCYM
— Abigail Marone (@abigailmarone) September 22, 2020
RELATED: What Ginsburg Said Four Years Ago About Filling A SCOTUS Vacancy During An Election Year
Trump Says Choosing Supreme Court Justices Among The Most Important Things A President Does
President Trump is tasked by law, as outlined in the U.S. Constitution, of nominating judges to the Supreme Court.
Article II, Section 2 of the Constitution reads, in part:
“…and he shall nominate, and by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, shall appoint ambassadors, other public ministers and consuls, judges of the Supreme Court, and all other officers of the United States, whose appointments are not herein otherwise provided for, and which shall be established by law…”
Trump noted that choosing a Supreme Court justice was among the most important things a president could do.
“The appointment of a United States Supreme Court justice was much more important to voters than I thought,” Trump said.
“And they’re right, because they will set policy for 50 years. Whether it’s life, whether it’s Second Amendment.”
President @realDonaldTrump on announcing his Supreme Court pick at 5:00 pm ET on Saturday: "We are getting close to a decision" pic.twitter.com/yxz4GS6Hk4
— Team Trump (Text VOTE to 88022) (@TeamTrump) September 22, 2020
Democrat Hypocrisy On Choosing SCOTUS Justices
The president said his choice would come from a list of 4-5 possible women judges to fill the vacancy on the nation’s highest court.
“We’re going to pick an incredible, brilliant woman and watch the abuse she will take,” Trump warned, believing the Democrats will rake his choice over the coals during her confirmation hearings.
Democratic leaders are calling for the SCOTUS selection to take place after the November presidential election.
This, despite the fact that right before the 2016 presidential election, President Barack Obama nominated judge Merrick Garland after Justice Antonin Scalia died.
At the time, President Obama, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, and other Democrats argued that the vacant seat must be filled.
Summer’s almost over, Senate leaders. #DoYourJob pic.twitter.com/JOEchACJ6i
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) August 30, 2016
What an impressive man. He deserves a hearing & a vote. #DoYourJob https://t.co/yOB05hFA7g
— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) June 1, 2016
Obama argued this as late as October 28, 2016.
Summer’s almost over, Senate leaders. #DoYourJob pic.twitter.com/JOEchACJ6i
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) August 30, 2016
With Democrats already calling to challenge this election, our nation is at risk of a constitutional crisis if we do not have a 9-justice #SCOTUS.
Joining @GStephanopoulos on @ThisWeekABC at 9:15am ET to talk about why we need to fill this vacancy before Election Day. pic.twitter.com/9AmSo07XEz
— Senator Ted Cruz (@SenTedCruz) September 20, 2020
RELATED: Pelosi on Filling the SCOTUS Seat: Republicans Are ‘Coming After Your Children’
One Man’s ‘Constitutional Crisis’ Is Another Man’s…
Democrats at the time said it would be a “constitutional crisis” if Garland wasn’t put on the court, though the Republican-controlled Senate blocked that from happening.
Virtually no Democrat now says failing to confirm Trump’s SCOTUS choice would amount to the same kind of crisis.