Administration of Donald J. Trump, 2020

September 25, 2020

Supreme Court Nomination Process

Q. Have you made your final decision on your Supreme Court pick?

The President. Well, I'll be announcing it tomorrow, the decision.

Q. [Inaudible]

The President. And I've made itâin my own mind, yes, I have. And I'll be announcing the decision tomorrow. It's very exciting. Five o'clock at the White House Rose Garden.

Q. Is it Barrett?

The President. So that decision will be made. It is made in my own mind, but we'll be announcing it tomorrow, 5 o'clock, at the White House.

Q. Did you wind up meeting with Lagoa? Did you meet with Lagoa?

Supreme Court Nomination Process

Q. Is it Amy? Is it Amy Coney Barrett? Everybody says that.

The President. Well, she's outstanding, but I haven't said that. I'll be announcing it tomorrow at 5 o'clock. We are going to make a roundtable now, and then I'm going to Virginia, as you know. We're doing a rally tonight, and then we'll call it a day. I would say that's a pretty good day.

Supreme Court Nomination Process/2020 Presidential Election

Q. Did you meet with Lagoa while you were in Florida?

The President. Say who?

Q. Did you meet with Lagoa?

The President. No, I did not.

Q. So you have not met with her?

The President. By the way, a very highly thought-of person, I have to say that. But I did not.

Q. So lawmakersâare lawmakers being told that it's Coney Barrett? [At this point, the President nodded his head.]

They are?

The President. Is that what they're telling you?

Q. Are they beingâare they being told that?

The President. You're going to find outâyou're going to find out tomorrow. [Laughter]

Q. Is it her?

The President. You'll find out tomorrow. She's veryâlook, they are all great. It could be any one of them. It could be, actually, anyone on the list. They're outstanding. But I'll be announcing tomorrow at the White House.

Q. Did youâ[inaudible]?

The President. So we're going for a roundtable now. We had an exciting day with Hispanics and the African American community. We're going to have a big roundtable now at the hotel, and then we're goingâI don't know who's going with me. Is anybody going with me on thisâthe rally? Steve [Steve A. Holland, Reuters], you want to see another rally. I know that.

Q. Jeff [Jeff Mason, Reuters]. Jeff will be with you tonight.

The President. Say it?

Q. Jeff will be with you tonight.

The President. Okay, good.

Supreme Court Nomination Process

Q. Tell me: What is it you like about Amy Coney Barrett?

The President. Well, I haven't said it was her. But she is outstanding. But they're all outstanding. They're all very outstanding people, top of line academically and every way possible.

Q. Did you meet with Barbara Lagoa today?

The President. I did not. No, I did not.

Q. You did not.

The President. No, I did not.

Q. Okay.

The President. Have a good time, everybody.

Supreme Court Nomination Process

Q. When you promised to appoint pro-life judges, was the goalââ

The President. Say it?

Q. When you promised to appoint pro-life Justices, was the goal to overturn Roe v. Wade?

The President. No, no. We'll seeâyou'll be seeing all of that tomorrow. We have not made our intentions felt, but you'll be seeing tomorrow.

Okay? Good. Thank you.

Q. Did you wantââ

The President. And I'll see some of youâsome are traveling with me tonight.

Q. Tomorrow.

The President. And I think I speak tonight at 9 o'clock in Virginia. Okay?

Q. Do you wantââ

The President. Thank you.

NOTE: The President spoke at 6:05 p.m. on the tarmac upon returning from Charlotte, NC. In his remarks, he referred to Amy Coney Barrett, judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit; and Barbara Lagoa, judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit.

Categories: Interviews With the News Media : Exchanges with reporters :: Joint Base Andrews, MD.

Locations: Joint Base Andrews, MD.

Names: Barrett, Amy Coney; Lagoa, Barbara.

Subjects: Communications : News media :: Presidential interviews; Judiciary : Federal court nominations and confirmations; Maryland : Joint Base Andrews; Maryland : President's visits.

DCPD Number: DCPD202000727.