REUTERS/Carlos Barria
- Prior to his confirmation to the US Supreme Court, Neil Gorsuch reportedly said that he found President Donald Trump’s criticism on the federal judicial system “disheartening” and “demoralizing.”
- Trump was said to be infuriated by the reported remark and considered rescinding his nomination.
Prior to his public praise of Neil Gorsuch’s nomination to the Supreme Court, President Donald Trump reportedly stewed over doubts about his loyalty, which stemmed from comments Gorsuch made during a private meeting with lawmakers earlier this year.
Gorsuch, who was nominated to take the late Justice Anonin Scalia’s seat on the Supreme Court, said that he found Trump’s criticisms about the federal judicial system “disheartening” and “demoralizing,” according to Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, who previously met with Gorsuch.
Following reports of Gorsuch’s comments, Trump considered rescinding his nomination and worried that he would not be “loyal,” according to one of the 11 people interviewed in a Washington Post report published on Monday.
“It’s clear [Trump] was very upset with the comment,” another source said.
Gorsuch’s comments at the time came amid Trump’s rants about a federal judge, who shut down his controversial travel ban that prevented people from seven majority-Muslim countries entering the US.
“Just cannot believe a judge would put our country in such peril,” Trump said on Twitter in February. “If something happens blame him and court system. People pouring in. Bad!”
During a meeting with top Republican leaders, Trump reportedly assailed Gorsuch and said “He’s probably going to end up being a liberal like the rest of them.”
“You never know with these guys,” Trump reportedly said, according to a source cited by The Post.
Trump was also reportedly upset that Gorsuch did not appear to be grateful of his nomination, according to White House officials in The Post. Although Gorsuch wrote a handwritten letter, dated March 2, thanking Trump for the nomination, Trump did not see it until eight days later, The Post reported.
“Your address to Congress was magnificent,” Gorsuch reportedly said in his letter. “And you were so kind to recognize Mrs. Scalia, remember the justice, and mention me. My teenage daughters were cheering the TV!”
Meanwhile, White House officials publicly denied that Gorsuch’s nominations were in jeopardy: ” The president’s nomination of Neil M. Gorsuch was among his first and most important accomplishments during his first year in office, and delivered on a major campaign promise,” White House spokesman Raj Shah said in a statement to The Post. “At no point did the president consider withdrawing Justice Gorsuch’s nomination. He is very proud of the accomplishment.”
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