DeSantis teases his 2024 campaign by saying he’ll appoint SEVENTH conservative Supreme Court justice

Ron DeSantis has teased the prospect of appointing a seventh conservative Supreme Court justice if he wins the presidency — and has poked fun at Donald Trump by highlighting how he could spend eight years in the White House.

Speaking Monday at the National Religious Broadcasters Convention in Orlando, DeSantis said 2024 was an election that could determine the composition of the Supreme Court for the next 25 years.

The 44-year-old Florida governor — who is expected to announce his candidacy this week — indirectly noted that he plans to serve two four-year terms.

Trump, who has already served one term, can serve only one more.

DeSantis told the crowd that four of the Supreme Court justices could retire in the next eight years: Clarence Thomas, 74; Samuel Alito, 73; Chief Justice John Roberts, 68; and Sonia Sotomayor, 68.

All except Sotomayor are conservative, although Roberts is considered a centrist on some social issues.

Ron DeSantis said Monday that four Supreme Court justices could retire in the next eight years: in the front row — Clarence Thomas, 74 (second from left); Samuel Alito, 73 (second right); Chief Justice John Roberts, 68 (third from left); and Sonia Sotomayor, 68 (left)

DeSantis would plan to replace all of them with conservatives, further strengthening the court’s six-three conservative majority.

“I think if you look at the next two presidential terms, chances are you’re going to be called upon to find replacements for Judge Clarence Thomas and Judge Samuel Alito and the problem with that is you can’t really do better than those two ,” said DeSantis.

“If you replace a Clarence Thomas with someone like Roberts or someone like that, you’re really seeing the court go left, and you can’t do that.”

He added: “So it’s possible that in those eight years we have the opportunity to strengthen Judges Alito and Thomas and also actually make improvements with those others, and if you could do that, you could do a 7-2 to have. conservative majority on the Supreme Court, that would take a quarter of a century.”

The audience erupted in applause at DeSantis’ proclamation.

DeSantis is expected to announce his own presidential candidacy on May 24 at an event in Miami.

It is widely believed that the Republican nomination will come down to Trump and DeSantis, but recent polling has seen DeSantis fade, while Trump gains support.

DeSantis has come under fire for his perceived stiffness on the campaign trail, with Trump long known for his charisma and ability to quickly strike up rapport with ordinary Americans.

Sources indicated that influential GOP donors, hesitant to support Trump but also concerned about DeSantis, are urging Virginia Governor Glen Youngkin to enter the 2024 race.

A source close to Youngkin has confirmed that he is reconsidering and will take a separate position in the field, as he is neither an ardent Trump supporter nor a Trump critic.

Donald Trump, photographed on May 1, is currently comfortably ahead of DeSantis in the polls

A recent Reuters/Ipsos poll gives Trump a commanding lead over DeSantis among Republican voters, 49% to 21%

Discussions about Youngkin’s possible entry into the presidential race are reportedly taking place among Virginia GOP strategists, reported Axios.

‘He’s thinking. He would be in his own job: he’s not Trump never, and he’s not Trump light,” a source said.

Last week, Youngkin’s team released a video hinting at a bigger announcement to come.

It’s time to usher in a new era of American values. It’s our turn to choose life, freedom and the pursuit of happiness.’

It is possible that Youngkin’s entry into the race may come late due to the high stakes of the state’s legislative races in November, where all 140 seats in the legislature are up for grabs.

Youngkin said taking control of Virginia’s state congress “is all about this year.”