President Donald Trump is warning that the 2026 elections could dramatically reshape the Supreme Court. “The Democrats number one policy push is the complete and total OBLITERATION of our great United States Supreme Court,” Trump posted Friday on Truth Social.
“They will do this on their very first day in office, through the simple Termination of the Filibuster, SHOULD THEY WIN THE UPCOMING ELECTIONS,” he wrote. Trump added that efforts are already underway to prepare for a major expansion of the court.
“The Radical Left Democrats are looking at 21 Justices, with immediate ascension. This would be terrible for our Country. Fear not, however, Republicans will not let it, or any of their other catastrophic policies, happen. Our Country is now in very good hands. MAGA!!!” he wrote.
In 2021, while Democrats controlled Congress and the White House, a proposal was introduced to expand the Supreme Court from nine to 13 justices, according to NBC News.
Democrats have frequently criticized the court, which holds a conservative majority strengthened during Trump’s first term with the appointments of Justices Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrett.
Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito also form part of the court’s conservative bloc, with Chief Justice John Roberts often joining the majority.
Democratic Sen. Ed Markey of Massachusetts has been one of the most vocal supporters of expanding the court.
“We are here today because the United States Supreme Court is broken,” Markey said during a news conference, according to the New York Post. “It is out of balance and it needs to be fixed.”
“I’m disappointed to say that too many Americans question the court’s legitimacy,” he added, without noting that Democrats publicly claiming the court is ‘broken’ has led to that distrust.
“The consequence is the rights of all Americans but especially people of color, women and our immigrant communities are at risk,” he said.
Democratic Rep. Mondaire Jones of New York has also pushed for expansion. “If we don’t expand the Court soon, we will no longer have a democracy to protect. What are we waiting for?” he said in 2021.
Other Republicans besides the president have also raised concerns about possible court packing.
Earlier this year, Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas introduced a constitutional amendment to keep the Supreme Court at nine justices, according to a news release on his website. “For years, Democrats have openly said they intend to pack the Supreme Court.,” it said. “They seek to use the Court to advance policy goals they can’t accomplish electorally.
“Such a move would be a direct assault on the design of our Constitution, which is designed to ensure the Supreme Court remains a non-partisan guardian of the rule of law. This amendment is a badly-needed check on their efforts to undermine the integrity of the Court,” he said.
GOP Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa backed the proposal. “Democrats’ radical court packing scheme would erase the legitimacy of the Supreme Court and destroy historic precedent,” he said.
“The Court is a co-equal branch of government, and our Keep Nine Amendment will ensure that it remains independent from political pressure,” Grassley added.
