Fact check: False claim that Ginsburg wanted Trump to immediately fill her seat on Supreme Court
The claim: Ruth Bader Ginsburg's last wish was for President Trump to fill her SCOTUS seat immediately
Following the death of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, misinformation has emerged across social media platforms as a tense debate is set to take place in the Senate over moving forward with a replacement just weeks ahead of the presidential election.
President Donald Trump has vowed to fill Ginsburg’s seat “without delay,” and on Saturday nominated Judge Amy Coney Barrett as his third Supreme Court pick.
While Democrats have vowed to do what they can to block any movement in the confirmation process until after Election Day Nov. 3, a recent post on Facebook claims that Ginsburg was in support of Trump moving quickly to fill her seat.
“Anonymous sources ‘RBG in last wishes wanted Trump to fill her seat ASAP,’” reads the Sept. 21 Facebook post.
The user behind the post did not respond to USA TODAY’s request for comment.
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Ginsburg’s final wish was for her seat to be filled after the election
Just days before Ginsburg died of complications from cancer, she shared with her granddaughter that her last wish was that she not be replaced on the Supreme Court until after the election.
"My most fervent wish is that I will not be replaced until a new president is installed," Ginsburg said in a statement to Clara Spera, NPR reported.
At 85, Ginsburg told CNN in 2018 that she intended to stay on the Supreme Court for at least five more years and as long as she was able to.
"My senior colleague, Justice John Paul Stevens, he stepped down when he was 90, so I think I have about at least five more years," Ginsburg said, according to CNN.
USA TODAY has also previously debunked the claim that Ginsburg said her Supreme Court seat should have been vacated a year ago because of health issues.
Fact check: It's true, Ginsburg and Scalia were close friends despite ideological differences
Our rating: False
The claim that Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg wanted President Donald Trump to fill her seat "ASAP" is FALSE, based on our research. Ginsburg's last wish was that her seat be filled after the presidential election, not before. There is no evidence or reports that Ginsburg said this.
Our fact-check sources:
NPR, Sept. 18, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Champion Of Gender Equality, Dies At 87
CNN, Aug. 21, 2018, Ginsburg suggests she has at least five more years on the Supreme Court
USA TODAY, Sept. 21, Fact check: Ruth Bader Ginsburg planned to stay on Supreme Court at least a few more years
USA TODAY, Sept. 18, Ruth Bader Ginsburg: Second woman on Supreme Court had been nation's leading litigator for women's rights
USA TODAY, Sept. 23, Fact check: Ruth Bader Ginsburg was confirmed in 42 days. But it wasn't an election year
USA TODAY, Sept. 26, Amy Coney Barrett: Talented judge, popular professor brings solid conservative credentials
Contributing: Ella Lee
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Fact check: False claim that Ginsburg wanted Trump to fill seat ASAP
