Republican primary front-runner Donald Trump on Monday reassured conservatives that he wants to put a pro-life Supreme Court justice on the bench.
“It’s going to be pro-life,” Mr. Trump said at a press conference in Washington, D.C. “We’re going to look at intellect, very important, like we want very, very smart people. We want conservatives on the Supreme Court.”
The billionaire businessman also said he would release a list of seven to 10 potential nominees for the highest court.
“I’m going to submit a list of justices, potential justices of the United States Supreme Court that I will appoint from the list — I won’t go beyond that list,” Mr. Trump said. “I’m going to let people know because some people say, ’Oh, maybe I’ll appoint a liberal judge.’ I’m not appointing a liberal judge.”
“I will be distributing that list in the very near future,” he said.
Mr. Trump, who met with several high-ranking congressional Republicans on Monday, said he has already shared the list with “a lot of people.”
Some on the right have called Mr. Trump’s pro-life bona fides into question, citing his long history of supporting abortion rights and Planned Parenthood before changing his mind in 2011. Critics also point to donations he made to a litany of staunchly pro-choice Democrats ranging from primary front-runner Hillary Clinton to House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi.
Mr. Trump has since reiterated his opposition to abortion and said he would divest public funds from Planned Parenthood if elected.
• Bradford Richardson can be reached at brichardson@washingtontimes.com.
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