Ruth Bader Ginsburg Slams Donald Trump in Rare Interview
This is a big deal.


Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg got candid in an interview with (opens in new tab)The New York Times (opens in new tab), discussing the Supreme Court's recent major ruling on access to abortions (opens in new tab), and revealing her take on this year's presidential election—namely, Donald Trump.
"I can't imagine what this place would be—I can't imagine what the country would be—with Donald Trump as our president," Ginsburg told the (opens in new tab)Times (opens in new tab). "For the country, it could be four years. For the court, it could be—I don't even want to contemplate that."
Ginsburg, whose husband Martin died in 2010, even joked about what Martin would say if he was here to watch Trump, well, trump the Republican race. "'Now it's time for us to move to New Zealand,'" Justice Ginsburg said, joking in a way that only the Notorious R.B.G. (opens in new tab) can.
Ginsburg's reveal is noteworthy because, as the Times states (opens in new tab), the other Supreme Court Justices have said nothing publicly about the presidential campaign. In addition, justices typically avoid interviews all together and, when they do participate, they skillfully avoid political topics. So, this R.B.G. truth bomb is a big deal.
Ginsburg also discussed the appointment of a new justice to the Supreme Court after the death of Antonin Scalia in February. Ginsburg endorsed Judge Merrick B. Garland, Obama's nominee. The nomination has been stalled as the Senate refuses to hold a hearing or vote, which Ginsburg criticized.
"That's their job," Ginsburg said when asked if the Senate has an obligation to assess Judge Garland's qualifications. "There's nothing in the Constitution that says the president stops being president in his last year."
At 83, Ginsburg has no plans to step away from her throne on the Supreme Court. She told the Times (opens in new tab) she plans on continuing "as long as I can do it full steam."
Prepare for more nuggets of Ginsburg wisdom in the future.
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Maggie Maloney is the associate editor at Town & Country and ELLE Decor, where she covers style, beauty, jewelry, and the many members of the royal family. She also manages social media and content strategy for both brands.
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