Trump Suggests Ted Cruz for Supreme Court, Quips Senators Would Eagerly Confirm Him

President Trump playfully suggests Senator Ted Cruz for Supreme Court during Texas visit

President Donald Trump floated the idea of nominating Senator Ted Cruz for the Supreme Court during remarks at the Port of Corpus Christi in Texas on Friday, jokingly suggesting the Texas Republican would receive unanimous bipartisan support because lawmakers would be eager to remove him from Congress.

“We have a senator who’s really an amazing guy,” Trump said during the outdoor engagement. “I’m thinking about putting him in the Supreme Court… Getting these nominations through is very tough, and he’s the only guy I know who’ll get 100% of the Democrat vote, 100% of the Republican vote. They want to get him out of there.”

Trump continued with a mix of teasing and praise: “He is such a pain in the a–, but he’s so good and so talented. If we ever had a problem, I just pick Ted. That would solve that problem… He’s a great guy, and he’s a very talented guy too — smart.”

Cruz, who accompanied the president along with other officials including Texas Governor Greg Abbott and Energy Secretary Chris Wright, has significant Supreme Court experience. Before his Senate career, Cruz argued nine cases before the nation’s highest court, including eight as Texas’ solicitor general. At the time of his 2012 Senate election, Cruz had tried more Supreme Court cases than any practicing lawyer in Texas or any member of Congress, according to The Texas Tribune.

The Harvard Law School graduate has served in the Senate since 2013, where he has established himself as a conservative voice advocating for limited government, economic growth, and national security. Cruz and Trump have a complex political history, having competed against each other for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination. Cruz suspended his campaign in May 2016 after losing the Indiana primary to Trump, who would go on to win the presidency.

The Supreme Court comments came during a broader visit focused on energy policy, with Trump addressing the gathering at one of America’s busiest ports. The Port of Corpus Christi has emerged as a crucial export hub for American energy products, particularly following the shale boom that has transformed U.S. energy production capabilities over the past decade.

During his remarks, Trump also briefly addressed ongoing tensions with Iran, noting that the United States faces a “very big decision” regarding potential military action against the country. He indicated he had discussed the matter with Cruz and other lawmakers traveling with him.

“We’ve got a lot of things going on now. We have a big decision to make… Not easy,” Trump said. “We have a country that’s been, for 47 years, blowing people’s legs off, arms off… killing people, lots of people. Not only Americans… They want to make a deal, but we’ve got to make a deal that’s meaningful.”

Trump referenced recent U.S. military actions, saying, “We hit them real hard, as you know, with those beautiful B-2 bombers — recently knocked out their nuclear capability.” He added, “I’d rather do it the peaceful way, but they’re very difficult people. I want to tell you that they’re very dangerous people, very difficult people.”

Earlier that day, Trump told reporters he had not yet decided whether to launch military strikes on Iran, expressing dissatisfaction with recent negotiations. The tensions with Iran represent one of the administration’s most pressing foreign policy challenges, with potential ramifications for regional stability and global energy markets.

The president’s Texas visit underscored the state’s critical role in American energy production and export strategy, a policy area where Cruz has been an active voice in the Senate.