President Obama will not attend Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia’s funeral on Saturday, White House Press secretary Josh Earnest confirmed on Wednesday.

The White House said Obama and first lady Michelle Obama will visit the Supreme Court on Friday to pay their respects as Scalia lies in repose.

Earnest said Vice President Joe Biden and his wife Jill Biden will attend Scalia's funeral on Saturday at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington.

Scalia died on Saturday at age 79. He joined the court in 1986 and was its longest-serving justice.

The White House is gearing up for a fight on Capitol Hill over who will replace Scalia.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said on Facebook that the next president should be responsible for appointing a justice. Obama has rejected the notion, saying he will put forward a nominee.