The president is hoping to fill the Supreme Court seat left vacant by the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg earlier this month. In the event of a contested election the Supreme Court could play a decisive role in selecting the winner, as it did in 2000 with George W. Bush vs Al Gore.
Speaking to reporters about his new nominee Mr Trump said: “I think it’s better if you go before the election because I think this scam the Democrats are pulling, it’s a scam, this scam will be before the United States Supreme Court.”
President Trump has repeatedly insisted, without providing evidence, that his Democratic rivals are working to rig November’s presidential election using mail-in-ballots.
Earlier this month he said the election would be “absolutely rigged” at “many polling stations”.
Mr Trump has repeatedly refused to say he will concede if defeated in November by Democratic rival Joe Biden.
Mr Trump has claimed, without providing evidence, the election could be “absolutely rigged” (Image: GETTY)
Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg died on September 18 (Image: GETTY)
A poll published in September found 75 percent of Mr Biden’s voters worry Mr Trump will refuse to concede if defeated.
However, vice-president Mike Pence has insisted the president will “absolutely” accept the election result if defeated.
Democrats are furious Mr Trump is seeking to fill the vacant Supreme Court seat before November’s election, pointing to Republicans refusal to approve Merrick Garland, Barack Obama’s 2016 pick, ahead of that year’s presidential election.
In the event of a disputed election the Supreme Court could be decisive in selecting the winner.
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Mike Pence by Justice Ginsburg’s coffin lying in state in Washington D.C. (Image: GETTY)
During the contested 2000 election it settled the dispute between Mr Bush and Mr Gore by halting a Florida recount and handing victory to Mr Bush.
Mr Gore accepted this decision and conceded but there are fears the process won’t be so straightforward this time around.
President Trump has released a shortlist of five women he is considering as the replacement for Justice Ruth Bader.
Two of these, Judges Amy Coney Barrett and Barbara Lagoa, have emerged as the frontrunners.
As Supreme Court justices can remain on the court for life Mr Trump’s pick could influence American politics for decades to come.
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Mourners pay tribute to Justice Ginsburg in Washington D.C. (Image: GETTY)
Tributes to Justice Ginsburg outside the US Supreme Court (Image: GETTY)
As Supreme Court justices can remain on the court for life Mr Trump’s pick could influence American politics for decades to come.
Reacting to Justice Ginsburg’s death on September 18 Mr Trump commented: “She led an amazing life.
“What else can you say? She was an amazing woman who led an amazing life. I’m actually saddened to hear that.”
Mr Biden also paid tribute to the deceased Supreme Court Justice arguing she embodied “the highest American ideas of equality and justice under the law”.
However, the Democratic nominee also insisted only the next president has the authority to select her replacement.
He commented: “The voters should pick the president, and the president should pick the justice for the Senate to consider.
“This was the position the Republican Senate took in 2016, almost 10 months to go before the election.
A vigil for Justice Ginsburg in New York (Image: GETTY)
“That’s the position the United States Senate must take today.”
There are fears a contested election could throw the United States into constitutional crisis, with the potential for violence on the streets.
In August 2020 the Transition Integrity Project, a bi-partisan group, released a report stating: “We assess President Trump is likely to contest the result by both legal and extra-legal means, in an attempt to hold onto power.”