Donald Trump has said he will push for a "nuclear" rule change to ensure Democrats cannot block his pick for the US Supreme Court.

The President has nominated conservative Colorado judge Neil Gorsuch to take a vacant seat in America's highest court, which could rule on the death penalty, abortion, climate change and LGBT rights during his time in office.

Senior Democrats have lined up in opposition against the move, with Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer warning his party will insist on Mr Gorsuch obtaining a 60-40 majority vote in the Senate.

But Mr Trump has said he will urge Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell to "go nuclear" and change the rules to allow for a simple 51-49 majority vote.

Trump: 'Judge Gorsuch has a superb intellect'

He said: "If we end up with the same gridlock that they've had in Washington… I would say 'If you can Mitch, go nuclear'


"(It) would be an absolute shame if a man of this quality was caught up in the web."

If approved, Mr Gorsuch would take the place of fellow conservative Antonin Scalia, who died a year ago.

Like Mr Scalia, Mr Gorsuch believes in the original interpretation of the US Constitution.

Trump picks Gorsuch for US Supreme Court

Paying tribute to the 49-year-old, Mr Trump said: "Judge Gorsuch is an exceptionally qualified person from the standpoint of experience and education. Great student, great intellect."

He added: "I hope we have an elegant process as opposed to a demeaning process.

"They are very demeaning on the other side and they want to make you look as bad as possible.

"I think he is a dignified man, I'd like to see him go through a dignified process."

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Democratic Senator Jeff Merkley described Mr Gorsuch as an "illegitimate and extreme nominee".

Meanwhile, Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren said the judge had sided with large companies over workers in previous rulings.

Earlier, Republicans pushed two of Mr Trump's proposed appointments through a Senate committee vote by suspending the panel's rules.

Hope you like my nomination of Judge Neil Gorsuch for the United States Supreme Court. He is a good and brilliant man, respected by all. — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 1, 2017

The Senate Finance Committee approved Georgia representative Tom Price to become Health Secretary and financier Steve Mnuchin to be Treasury Secretary, both by a 14-0 margin.

Democrats had demanded time to ask more questions about the nominees and boycotted the meeting, but Republicans pressed ahead by suspending a rule that requires at least one Democrat to be present for votes.