Why Trump Nominated Kavanaugh to the Court

Donald Trump walked into the East Room of the White House alone at just past 9 p.m., stretching the suspense surrounding his Supreme Court pick about as far as he could. It was Judge Brett Kavanaugh, of the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, who, if confirmed, should in the years to come please conservatives of several varieties—but first Trump wanted to talk about Trump for a few minutes. Choosing a Supreme Court Justice was “one of the most profound responsibilities of the President of the United States,” the most important “other than matters of war and peace.” He paused to congratulate himself for choosing Neil Gorsuch, last year, to fill the seat that opened when “the late, great Justice Antonin Scalia” died (and, though Trump didn't mention it, was kept open through the machinations of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell); to acknowledge Scalia's widow, Maureen, who was in the crowd; to thank Justice Anthony Kennedy for retiring; and to invoke Ronald Reagan while offering a line that, when it comes to today's Supreme Court, can only be called an utter falsehood: “What matters is not a judge's political views.”