Ruth Bader Ginsburg Regrets Criticizing Donald Trump

Ruth Bader Ginsburg said she regrets criticizing Donald Trump after she was the subject of an intense backlash for her comments.

“On reflection, my recent remarks in response to press inquiries were ill-advised and I regret making them,” the Supreme Court justice said in a statement Thursday. “Judges should avoid commenting on a candidate for public office. In the future I will be more circumspect.”

On Sunday, Ginsburg said she “can’t imagine what the country would be — with Donald Trump as our President.” She doubled down on her remark on Tuesday, calling Trump a “faker” and saying, “He has no consistency about him. He says whatever comes into his head at the moment. He really has an ego. … How has he gotten away with not turning over his tax returns? The press seems to be very gentle with him on that.”

Ginsburg’s comments irked Trump, who said Tuesday, “I think it’s highly inappropriate that a United States Supreme Court judge gets involved in a political campaign, frankly,” Mr. Trump said in a telephone interview. “I think it’s a disgrace to the court, and I think she should apologize to the court. I couldn’t believe it when I saw it.”

Trump also tweeted:

Both the Washington Post and the New York Times editorial boards also denounced Ginsburg’s comments. The Post, whose editorial board has been openly critical of Trump, wrote, “However valid her comments may have been, though, and however in keeping with her known political bent, they were still much, much better left unsaid by a member of the Supreme Court.” The Times said: “Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg needs to drop the political punditry and the name-calling.”