The Washington PostDemocracy Dies in Darkness

Trump says he’ll choose a woman to replace RBG. He earlier said men would be ‘insulted’ by Biden limiting VP search to women.

Ginsburg’s death has set off a political firestorm

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September 20, 2020 at 12:40 p.m. EDT

President Trump said Saturday he expects to announce his nominee to replace Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg this week, putting him on track to unveil his decision before the first presidential debate with Democratic nominee Joe Biden on Sept. 29.

He said he intends to pick a woman for the role.

“It will be a woman — a very talented, very brilliant woman,” Trump told supporters at an evening campaign rally in North Carolina. “We haven’t chosen yet, but we have numerous women on the list.”

But last month, Trump criticized Biden for saying that he would choose a woman as his running mate, telling Fox News Radio, “Some people would say that men are insulted by that."

Asked by host Clay Travis in last month’s interview to weigh in on Biden’s vice-presidential selection process, Trump responded that he personally “would be inclined to go a different route” because Biden “roped himself into, you know, a certain group of people.”

“He said he had to pick a woman,” Travis replied.

“He said that,” Trump said. “And, you know, some people would say that men are insulted by that. And some people would say it’s fine. I don’t know."

Ginsburg’s death has set off a political firestorm over when she should be replaced. A growing number of Republicans say they will support the push by the White House and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) to vote quickly on Trump’s nominee rather than waiting until the next president takes office, making way for Trump to appoint a third conservative justice to the bench.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) — one of several closely watched Republican senators who could play a crucial role in a vote — said Sunday that she does not support filling Ginsburg’s seat before the November election. Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) said Saturday that whoever is elected in November should nominate Ginsburg’s replacement.