Supreme Court Associate Justices Samuel Alito, left, and Clarence Thomas at the inauguration ceremonies for President Donald Trump in the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 20, 2025 in Washington.

President Donald Trump would add to his already considerable imprint on the Supreme Court if he gets to pick another justice, but he's not trying to push either of the court's two oldest members out the door.

Trump told Politico in an exclusive interview that he would like to see Justices Clarence Thomas, 77, and Samuel Alito, 75, stay on the bench.

"I hope they stay ’cause I think they’re fantastic, OK? Both of those men are fantastic," Trump said.

Alito and Thomas are part of a 6-3 conservative majority. Trump appointed three of the conservatives during his first term − Amy Coney Barrett, 53, Neil Gorsuch, 58, and Brett Kavanaugh, 60. Chief Justice John Roberts, the other conservative, is 70.

Trump's court picks were among the most consequential developments of his first term. The reshaped court has delivered some bombshell opinions, including striking down abortion protections and declaring presidents have immunity from prosecution for some official actions.

The court is now weighing parts of Trump's second-term agenda, with a ruling expected soon on the legality of his sweeping tariff program.

Replacing Alito or Thomas with a younger justice would increase the likelihood of a conservative majority further into the future. If either were to retire or die under a Democratic president, it could shift the balance of the court.

That happened when liberal Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg died during Trump's first term and he replaced her with Barrett.

Contributing: Maureen Groppe, Bart Jansen

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump wants Supreme Court's oldest justices, Thomas and Alito, to stay

Reporting by Zac Anderson, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

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