Trump Backs Alito, Thomas As Retirement Rumors Circulate

President Donald Trump is signaling firm support for Supreme Court Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas as internal Republican discussions continue over whether the party should prepare for possible retirements on the high court.

The speculation has grown in recent weeks as some GOP strategists weigh the long-term makeup of the court ahead of the midterm elections, Fox News reported.

Party officials fear that a shift in Senate control could complicate the confirmation process for any new conservative nominees.

Trump addressed the issue directly, telling Politico he wants both justices to remain on the bench.

“I hope they stay,” Trump said. “’Cause I think they’re fantastic,” he added, making clear he has no interest in encouraging early departures.

Alito, now 75, has served on the Supreme Court since 2006 after being nominated by President George W. Bush.

He has played a key role in landmark decisions on religious liberty, administrative power, and other major issues that have shaped the court’s conservative direction.

A source close to Alito told the Wall Street Journal that retirement is not under consideration.

“The idea that he’s going to retire for political considerations is not consistent with who he is,” the source said.

Thomas, 77, is the longest-serving sitting justice, joining the court in 1991 after being nominated by President George H.W. Bush.

His tenure has been marked by decades of decisions rooted in originalist interpretations of the Constitution.

Thomas has also been the center of public scrutiny, particularly after Democratic lawmakers in 2022 called for his resignation or impeachment.

Those calls intensified when investigators released text messages from his wife, Ginni Thomas, to then-White House chief of staff Mark Meadows urging challenges to the 2020 election results.

Thomas remained on the court through the controversy and did not recuse himself from related cases.

Despite the pressure, he has not indicated any plans to leave the bench.

Some Republicans have discussed whether urging earlier retirements could ensure younger conservative successors while the Senate remains favorable to Trump’s judicial picks.

Those conversations have grown louder with the approach of another election cycle.

The court’s conservative majority has delivered several major decisions in recent years, and party strategists say maintaining that majority is central to their long-term legal and political priorities.

For now, Trump’s public stance appears intended to quiet speculation and signal confidence in both justices.

The former president’s remarks come as the court enters another term filled with cases that could shape national policy on free speech, administrative power, and religious rights.

Alito and Thomas remain key voices in those debates.

At this stage, neither justice has given any indication that they are considering retirement.

The GOP discussion reflects broader concerns about institutional stability and the political stakes surrounding future vacancies.

Trump’s statements suggest he wants both justices to remain in place as the court continues to shape legal battles that could extend far beyond the current political climate.

The Supreme Court on Monday erased a lower court ruling that had upheld New York’s strict school vaccine rules that don’t allow for religious exemptions and ordered judges to reconsider the case with a new focus on parental rights.

Amish parents had challenged the law, arguing New York once recognized religious exemptions but eliminated them in 2019, The Washington Times reported.

A federal district court and then the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled against the families.

The Supreme Court told the appeals court to reevaluate the case in light of last term’s ruling involving the lack of parental opt-outs from the LGBTQ diversity curriculum in Montgomery County, Maryland.

The justices vacated the 2nd Circuit opinion, removing it from effect.

Kelly Shackelford, president of First Liberty, which represented the Amish families, called the order a victory.