Trump Team Plans Right-Wing Supreme Court Nominees

President Donald Trump's team is proactively preparing a shortlist of extremely conservative judges as potential Supreme Court nominees, should vacancies arise during his current term. Among the leading candidates are Andrew Oldham and James Ho from the Fifth Circuit Appeals Court, Amal Thapar from the Sixth Circuit, and Neomi Rao from the D.C. Circuit, who would be the first Asian American justice if confirmed. The White House is focusing on nominees in the mold of Justices Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas, and the late Antonin Scalia, aiming to ensure a smoother confirmation process than that experienced by Justice Brett Kavanaugh. While no current justices have announced plans to retire, Justices Thomas and Alito, aged 77 and 75 respectively, could potentially step down in the coming years. Trump’s advisers emphasize loyalty as a key criterion for nominees, seeking candidates who will firmly support the conservative judicial agenda. Republicans control the Senate, which may facilitate swift confirmations, allowing Trump to further shift the Court rightward during his ongoing presidency.