# IF Trump nominated Ted Cruz for the Supreme Court, what would happen? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Tags:** trump\ **Created:** [February 28, 2026, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-trump-nominated-ted-cruz-for-the-supreme-court-what-would-happen/1028084 "2026-02-28T19:16:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2026, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-trump-nominated-ted-cruz-for-the-supreme-court-what-would-happen/1028084/1 "2026-02-28T19:16:14Z")
See the word “IF” in the title? Please take it into account when responding. [Trump says he’s thinking of putting Republican Senator Ted Cruz on Supreme Court | Reuters](https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-says-hes-thinking-putting-republican-senator-ted-cruz-supreme-court-2026-02-27/) If Trump nominates Cruz for the Supreme Court, would (not could, but would) Congress put the kibosh on it? By the way, I know that Cruz said he wouldn’t take the job, but Ted’s non-ability to stand up to Trump is rather well known, so I won’t take that denial very seriously. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2026, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-trump-nominated-ted-cruz-for-the-supreme-court-what-would-happen/1028084/2 "2026-02-28T19:23:27Z")
Congress would submit as always, and let him do it. ---
**Author:** ![dolphinboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dolphinboy/32/330_2.png) [@dolphinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolphinboy)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2026, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-trump-nominated-ted-cruz-for-the-supreme-court-what-would-happen/1028084/3 "2026-02-28T19:23:29Z")
While there would almost surely be a split in the Senate, as always, the majority would win, unless there were enough Republicans who thought he wasn’t qualified and joined the Democratic minority. I don’t know how many principled Republicans there are, but my guess is that he would be easily confirmed. ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2026, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-trump-nominated-ted-cruz-for-the-supreme-court-what-would-happen/1028084/4 "2026-02-28T19:38:29Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > I know that Cruz said he wouldn’t take the job, Which confirms that the lying asshole wants it badly. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2026, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-trump-nominated-ted-cruz-for-the-supreme-court-what-would-happen/1028084/5 "2026-02-28T19:45:42Z")
“No Vacancies”. I mean if trump tried to put a 10th Justice in- it would not fly. Several GOP traditionalists. If, however, say Thomas was to leave- health, death or resignation, whatever- then the vote would be close. They need 50-51, (they have 53), if only 49 then no-go. Cruz is perfectly capable of alienating 3-4 GOP senators. trump is not as popular with the Republican congress as he once was. My guess? 66% chance of voting him in. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2026, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-trump-nominated-ted-cruz-for-the-supreme-court-what-would-happen/1028084/6 "2026-02-28T19:55:06Z")
Higher if any of the Democrats fold. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2026, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-trump-nominated-ted-cruz-for-the-supreme-court-what-would-happen/1028084/7 "2026-02-28T20:02:30Z")
Some Democrats would probably vote yes just to get rid of him. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2026, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-trump-nominated-ted-cruz-for-the-supreme-court-what-would-happen/1028084/8 "2026-02-28T20:03:57Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > “No Vacancies”. I mean if trump tried to put a 10th Justice in- it would not fly. Several GOP traditionalists. Given how noodle-spined the Republicans have consistently been towards Trump, I expect they’d instantly sacrifice those traditions if he demanded it. ---
**Author:** ![aurora\_maire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aurora_maire/32/328_2.png) [@aurora\_maire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aurora_maire)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2026, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-trump-nominated-ted-cruz-for-the-supreme-court-what-would-happen/1028084/9 "2026-02-28T20:35:28Z")
It’s well known that Ted Cruz is the most hated Senator by other Senators. I think they would tell Trump to find anyone else. ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2026, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-trump-nominated-ted-cruz-for-the-supreme-court-what-would-happen/1028084/10 "2026-02-28T20:38:24Z")
Of those Trump might realistically nominate, Cruz would be the easist to confirm. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2026, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-trump-nominated-ted-cruz-for-the-supreme-court-what-would-happen/1028084/11 "2026-02-28T20:45:08Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > Given how noodle-spined the Republicans have consistently been towards Trump, I expect they’d instantly sacrifice those traditions if he demanded it. The number of Supreme Court justices is set by law, so without 60 votes in the Senate there’s no way to add extra seats. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2026, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-trump-nominated-ted-cruz-for-the-supreme-court-what-would-happen/1028084/12 "2026-02-28T20:47:53Z")
It is right there in the first sentence of the article: “President Donald Trump on Friday said he was considering nominating Republican Senator Ted Cruz for a future seat on the U.S. Supreme Court” Future seat. ---
**Author:** ![Tierce](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ea5d25/32.png) [@Tierce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tierce)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2026, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-trump-nominated-ted-cruz-for-the-supreme-court-what-would-happen/1028084/13 "2026-02-28T21:08:38Z")
Someone in another thread said there were rumors that Alito was considering retiring this year. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2026, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-trump-nominated-ted-cruz-for-the-supreme-court-what-would-happen/1028084/14 "2026-02-28T21:16:12Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > The number of Supreme Court justices is set by law, so without 60 votes in the Senate there’s no way to add extra seats. “Trump says so” is all he needs. The law is unimportant. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2026, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-trump-nominated-ted-cruz-for-the-supreme-court-what-would-happen/1028084/15 "2026-02-28T21:17:42Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > Trump says so” is all he needs. “Trump says so” doesn’t override a filibuster. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2026, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-trump-nominated-ted-cruz-for-the-supreme-court-what-would-happen/1028084/16 "2026-02-28T21:19:24Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > “Trump says so” doesn’t override a filibuster. A filibuster would require something other than abject compliance on the part of Congress. It’s never been a matter of Trump being unstoppable; it’s always been a matter of those with the power to do anything refusing to even try. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2026, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-trump-nominated-ted-cruz-for-the-supreme-court-what-would-happen/1028084/17 "2026-02-28T21:21:15Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > A filibuster would require something other than abject compliance on the part of Congress. The SAVE act is being blocked by a filibuster right now and DHS is in a shutdown because of a filibuster. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2026, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-trump-nominated-ted-cruz-for-the-supreme-court-what-would-happen/1028084/18 "2026-02-28T21:33:10Z")
Ted Cruz is held in the lowest esteem by every single one of his fellow Senators. I can’t imagine him getting a single vote other than his own. ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2026, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-trump-nominated-ted-cruz-for-the-supreme-court-what-would-happen/1028084/19 "2026-02-28T22:05:44Z")
Intitutionalists would vote to confirm because he is a fellow senator. The rest would just like the idea of getting rid of him. Most Democratic senators would vote no because, like any future Trump nominee, Cruz is a right wing extremist. Plus the base would, for good reason, demand it. But I think he would get a few more votes than another similarly ideological nominee would get. ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2026, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-trump-nominated-ted-cruz-for-the-supreme-court-what-would-happen/1028084/20 "2026-03-01T01:46:07Z")
You cannot filibuster a court nominee. Cruz probably really hates TCF (the convicted felon) and once he no longer fears being primaried, might not be so amenable to TCF’s illegal actions. I can imagine worse appointments. Aileen Luce Cannon, anyone? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-trump-nominated-ted-cruz-for-the-supreme-court-what-would-happen/1028084.md?page=2)