Trump jokes Cruz could win unanimous Supreme Court vote

President Donald Trump suggested on Monday that Senator Ted Cruz of Texas could become his next Supreme Court nominee should a vacancy arise, framing the idea as a joke built around a bipartisan desire to see the senator leave the chamber. The remarks came during an Oval Office event to launch the administration's new child savings initiative, known as Trump Accounts.

Addressing Cruz, who was present, Trump recalled their rivalry during the 2016 Republican presidential primary before pivoting to the hypothetical nomination. He said Cruz is the only potential nominee who could sail through confirmation with total unanimity, claiming Democrats would support him because they want to get him the hell out of the Senate. Trump added that if he were having a difficult confirmation fight, he would appoint Cruz to guarantee 100 percent support.

This was not the first time Trump has floated Cruz as a Supreme Court contender. He made similar comments at a Washington summit in late January and again in February during a visit to Texas. Cruz, for his part, has played along. During Monday's event, he thanked Trump for intervening in a World Cup officiating controversy involving U.S. men's...