Trump to Pay Respects to Ginsburg at Supreme Court

The flag-draped casket of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg arrives at the Supreme Court in Washington on Sept. 23, 2020. J. Scott Applewhite/AP Photo

President Donald Trump will pay his respects to deceased Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on Thursday, the White House announced.

“The President will pay his respects to the late justice on Thursday at the U.S. Supreme Court where she will be lying in repose,” Judd Deere, deputy press secretary, said on Sept. 23.

Ginsburg, who died at age 87 last week, is lying in repose at the court building in Washington starting Wednesday morning and continuing until 10 p.m. on Thursday.

Ginsburg’s body will be stationed outside so members of the public can more safely pay their respects amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Trump said he learned of the justice’s death for the first time when asked by a reporter about it following a rally in Minnesota on Friday night.

“You’re telling me now for the first time. She led an amazing life, what else can you say? She was an amazing woman, whether you agree or not, she was an amazing woman who led an amazing life,” the president said.

“I’m actually sad to hear that. I’m sad to hear that,” he added after a pause.

Law clerks and other people gather as the flag-draped casket of the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg arrives at the Supreme Court in Washington on Sept. 23, 2020. Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images

President Donald Trump speaks to the media as he reacts to the news of the death of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on the tarmac of Bemidji Regional Airport after addressing supporters during a "Great American Comeback" rally at in Bemidji, Minn., on Sept. 18, 2020. Brendan Smialowski/Getty Images

Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is introduced during the keynote address for the State Bar of New Mexico's annual meeting in Pojoaque, N.M., on Aug. 19, 2016. Craig Fritz/AP Photo

Ginsburg, the oldest member of the court, battled health problems for years, including cancer and broken bones.

Ginsburg refused to retire when Democrats held the presidency from 2009 to 2017, initially saying President Barack Obama couldn’t appoint someone like her and later pointed to the Republican-held Senate as a likely obstacle to Obama picking whomever he wanted.

Senate Republicans in 2016 refused to consider Obama’s nominee for another vacancy, a seat that ultimately went to Trump nominee Neil Gorsuch.

Ginsburg called Trump a “faker” before he was elected, something she later apologized for. She said she wanted to serve on the court until she was 90.

Ginsburg’s body is slated to lie in state in the U.S. Capitol on Friday.

A private interment service is slated to take place next week at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia, which borders Washington.

Trump plans to announce his choice to replace Ginsburg on Saturday.

He has said it will be a woman.