“I’m not going to ask them that question,” Trump said when asked whether he’d interview Supreme Court candidates about the 1973 abortion-rights ruling. | Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP Photo Trump says he won’t ask Supreme Court candidates about Roe v. Wade

President Donald Trump said on Friday that he wouldn’t ask Supreme Court candidates about Roe v. Wade, the landmark abortion-rights decision, as he begins interviewing potential nominees this weekend before announcing his choice on July 9.

“I’ve got it narrowed to about five,” including two women, Trump told reporters on Air Force One en route to his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey. He said he would interview one or two candidates there over the weekend.


Choosing a female nominee to replace Justice Anthony Kennedy, who announced his retirement on Thursday, could be partly a political calculation, given that the future court is expected to consider abortion-rights cases that have the potential to undo rights recognized in Roe v. Wade.

“I’m not going to ask them that question,” Trump said when asked whether he’d interview candidates about the ruling. On the campaign trail, Trump promised to nominate only judges who oppose abortion rights.

Republican Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, whose votes will be critical to confirming any Trump nominee, favor abortion rights, and abortion-rights groups and their allies are organizing to fight any candidate selected from Trump’s list of 25 potential candidates. They’ve mounted a #ditchthelist campaign on Twitter and are targeting Democratic senators up for reelection in November.

Trump’s public list of potential nominees includes six women. Four — 10th Circuit Judge Allison Eid, 6th Circuit Judge Joan Larsen, Court of Appeals of the Armed Forces Judge Margaret Ryan and 7th Circuit Judge Diane Sykes — were on lists released during the 2016 presidential campaign. Two — 7th Circuit Judge Amy Barrett and Georgia Supreme Court Justice Britt Grant — were added last November.

