The passing of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg last week stunned the nation. In addition to the national loss of a decades-long public servant, the question of Ginsburg's replacement has infused the 2020 election with even greater urgency.
In a complete reversal of the stance they took when Obama attempted to replace the late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia in 2016, Senate Republicans—with the approval of President Donald Trump—are working to confirm a replacement for Ginsburg before the election in six weeks.
Trump revealed why in a Wednesday meeting with Republican attorneys general, where he said he believes the Supreme Court will be deciding the election in 2020.
Watch below.
Trump says he wants a Supreme Court justice seated before the election because mail-in voting, which he falsely calls a "scam" will "be before the United States Supreme Court."
Trump's comments imply he expects to lose and wants a justice to decide the race in his favor. pic.twitter.com/TFaXa3AvOu
— The American Independent (@AmerIndependent) September 23, 2020
Trump said:
"I think this will end up in the Supreme Court and I think it's very important that we have nine justices, and I think the system's going to go very quickly ... I think this scam that the Democrats are pulling, it's a scam, this scam will be before the United States Supreme Court and I think having a 4-4 situation is not a good situation."
Trump's comments come just after further revelations about the GOP's intentions to use the Supreme Court to keep hold of the White House.
The Pennsylvania GOP intends to ask the Supreme Court to review a lower ruling that allowed for relaxed absentee voting deadlines. Another purported scheme from the Trump campaign is its effort to pressure swing states with Republican dominated state senates and houses to appoint electors willing to vote for Trump even if the people of their state didn't.
Trump's comments struck a foreboding chord.
THEY ARE BEING VERY TRANSPARENT ABOUT WHAT THEY'RE DOING https://t.co/UgSQqgmuF1
— Chris Hayes (@chrislhayes) September 23, 2020
Just because Trump says this out loud, doesn't make it any less scandalous. And the Republican Senate is complicit. https://t.co/FWeyQWX72B
— Judd Legum (@JuddLegum) September 23, 2020
So he's already admitting that he's going to ignore actual voters and ballot tallies. https://t.co/uwVitEy7CR
— Fiddler (@cFidd) September 23, 2020
in 2016 they stole a supreme court seat. in 2020 they're trying to steal another... & then they'll try to steal the election.
they're saying it out loud.
we have to vote in such huge numbers that there will be no contesting his defeat. we can, & we will: https://t.co/N0HkO1C0vH https://t.co/X839vQ6CMd
— tyler oakley (@tyleroakley) September 23, 2020
This means that whoever he nominates is going to be a fully compliant puppet. https://t.co/NZLmnGZeA1
— Charles Johnson (@Green_Footballs) September 23, 2020
You're not supposed to get to pick the arbiter of your own election. This is insane https://t.co/LgjfgtRz31
— Laura Bassett (@LEBassett) September 23, 2020
Elections—for those who may not know—are supposed to be decided by the people.
The Supreme Court doesn't decide who the next President is - WE THE PEOPLE DECIDE WHO THE NEXT PRESIDENT IS https://t.co/aHioMfn2TV
— Shawn in Az 🌵 (@ShawnInArizona) September 23, 2020
I thought that decision was down to the American people but apparently not.... https://t.co/VMOSxXyNQt
— Sian Jasper (@SianJasper) September 23, 2020
They want to steal the election. Trump will dispute it no matter what. They don't care about the voice of the people. They want s dictatorship! https://t.co/13cmwqoALy
— 🦁Leo (@Leo97894180) September 23, 2020
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Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images