Trump dismisses court packing: ‘It will never happen’

President Trump on Tuesday dismissed the idea of court packing that has been floated by a number of 2020 Democratic presidential candidates.

{mosads}“No, I wouldn’t entertain that,” Trump said when asked if he would consider adding more justices to the Supreme Court to pre-empt Democrats. “We would have no interest in that whatsoever. It will never happen.”

The president said “the only reason” Democrats are talking about court packing is because they can’t “catch up” with Republicans “through the ballot box.”

Pres. Trump says he “wouldn’t entertain” idea of adding seats to the Supreme Court. “I guarantee, it won’t happen for six years.” https://t.co/W5mdJV4bmS pic.twitter.com/wtj8cpCaPZ

— ABC News (@ABC) March 19, 2019

Whether to expand the number of Supreme Court justices has emerged as a lightning-rod issue in the 2020 Democratic presidential primary, with a number of liberal activists and outside groups pushing it as a way to counter what they say is undue GOP influence over the high court.

South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg (D) and former Texas Rep. Beto O’Rourke (D) have both said they could support the idea.

Liberals remain deeply embittered over Senate Republicans’ decision to block former President Obama’s final Supreme Court pick, Merrick Garland, from receiving a confirmation vote in 2016, while Trump has placed two new justices on the bench.