President Trump: Kennedy Retirement Makes Senate Control 'Vital' For Republicans 
 
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 During a rally in North Dakota Wednesday night, President Trump underscored the importance of protecting the GOP's Senate majority this fall, deeming it especially critical in the wake of Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy's retirement. 
 
 "Justice Kennedy's retirement makes the issue of Senate control one of the vital issues of our time — the most important thing we can do," Trump told a crowd in Fargo. 
 
 The president was there to campaign for Republican Rep. Kevin Cramer, who's challenging Democratic Sen. Heidi Heitkamp in one of the GOP's top opportunities to pick up a Senate seat. North Dakota is one of 10 states that Trump carried in 2016 in which Democratic incumbents are up for re-election — and he won North Dakota by about 36 points. 
 
 Trump argued that Cramer would support his agenda and, most importantly, his court picks, while Heitkamp will not. 
 
 "Heidi will vote no to any pick we make for the Supreme Court. She will be told to do so," Trump said. 
 
 Heitkamp, however, was one of three Democrats to vote in favor of Trump's first Supreme Court nominee, now-Justice Neil Gorsuch. 
 
 Trump didn't directly mention that vote, but did later claim that sometimes Heitkamp would give Republicans and the White House a "quickie vote" but that "the day after that election, she's voting party line, 100 percent." 
 
 NPR Politics Podcast Analysis: Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy's Retirement Analysis: Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy's Retirement Listen · 22:57 22:57 
 
 In a statement after the rally, Heitkamp pushed back, saying she would continue to be her own person in the Senate, election year or not. 
 
 "Anytime the president comes to North Dakota, that's a good thing for our state. While we saw election-year politics today, I'm always willing to work with the president if he's helping North Dakota — and if he's not, I'll speak up," Heitkamp said. "I don't answer to a political party or president, I only answer to North Dakotans, who deserve an independent voice in the Senate. That's why I've always been eager to work across the aisle — including with the president — to get results for our state, and today's rally hasn't changed that." 
 
 Trump continued to tie Heitkamp to the national party throughout the rally nonetheless. 
 
 "When Heidi ran for office, she promised to be an independent vote for the people of North Dakota. Instead, she went to Washington and immediately joined Chuck — you know who Chuck is," Trump said, referring to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., "and Nancy," that is, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif. Trump also railed on Democrats' "new leader," Maxine Waters, hitting the liberal California congresswoman who came under fire even from her own leadership in her call for public confrontations against Trump administration officials. 
 
 Trump hit on many of his favorite subjects during the freewheeling rally — immigration, tax cuts, trade, the economy, reveling in his 2016 victory, boasting about the size of the crowd and more. But the Kennedy retirement hung over the night, and Trump also took time in his remarks to honor the retiring justice — an unpredictable swing vote who hasn't always been a favorite of conservatives despite being nominated by President Ronald Reagan. Trump called Kennedy a "very special guy" and promised that he would pick someone with "intellect" as his successor, someone he suggested could serve on the court for 40 or more years. 
 
 "I'm very honored that he chose to [retire] during my term in office. He felt confident in me to make the right choice to carry on his great legacy," Trump said. 
 
 Heitkamp and other red state Democrats will play a crucial role in determining how much resistance a new Supreme Court nominee is met with. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell — who controversially blocked President Obama's nominee to succeed the late Justice Antonin Scalia until after the 2016 election, allowing Trump to fill the seat with Gorsuch — has indicated he wants a vote ahead of the 2018 midterms. But Democrats have called such a decision hypocrisy, given McConnell's insistence against holding a confirmation hearing during an election year. 
 
 The Senate is currently split 51-49 for Republicans, but Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., has been absent for months battling brain cancer, so the margin for error is even smaller. There are some GOP wildcard votes too — Maine Sen. Susan Collins and Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski support abortion rights, and one reason Trump supporters are cheering a Kennedy replacement — and Democrats are so fearful — is the belief that a new justice could help overturn Roe v. Wade, the 1973 case that legalized abortion. 
 
 Along with Heitkamp, Democratic Sens. Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Joe Donnelly of Indiana also voted to confirm Gorsuch last year — and the trio of often centrist Democrats are considered some of the most endangered Senate incumbents in November's elections. Given their re-election concerns, they could be under pressure to do so again with Trump's new Supreme Court nominee. Even so, Trump made it clear with Heitkamp on Wednesday night, that won't earn them a pass ahead of the November elections from him or Republicans. ||||| “Heidi will vote no to any pick we make for the Supreme Court,” President Donald Trump said in North Dakota. “And because of this she will be forced to vote yes. Who knows? And Justice Kennedy’s retirement makes the issue of Senate control one of the vital issues of our time.” | Justin Sullivan/Getty Images Trump makes Justice Kennedy an issue in Senate race in North Dakota 
 
 President Donald Trump on Wednesday evening praised retiring Justice Anthony Kennedy — and sought to convince North Dakota voters that Sen. Heidi Heitkamp, the state’s incumbent Democrat, would not vote for a conservative replacement on the Supreme Court. 
 
 “I’m very honored that he chose to do it during my term in office, because he felt confident in me to make the right choice and carry on his great legacy,” the president said in Fargo, North Dakota, during a rally for Heitkamp’s Republican opponent in the midterms, Rep. Kevin Cramer. “And I would like to take a moment to show our great appreciation for Justice Kennedy’s lifetime of distinguished service, terrific man.” 
 
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 Kennedy announced his retirement earlier Wednesday. The move makes way for another conservative on the high court — the second appointment for Trump, after Justice Neil Gorsuch. It also puts pressure on red-state Democrats ahead of the November elections, including Heitkamp. 
 
 Trump on Wednesday bashed Heitkamp several times as he campaigned for Cramer. The president predicted that she wouldn’t vote for the next nominee, even though Heitkamp voted to confirm Gorsuch. 
 
 “Heidi will vote no to any pick we make for the Supreme Court,” he said. “And because of this she will be forced to vote yes. Who knows? And Justice Kennedy’s retirement makes the issue of Senate control one of the vital issues of our time.” 
 
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 The president also said his nominee would need to be an “intellect,” but offered no hints as to whom he would choose. 
 
 “Remember this: We have to pick a great one that is going to be there for 40 years or 45 years,” he said. “We need intellect, we need so many things. There is so many elements that goes into the making of a great justice of the Supreme Court.” ||||| In North Dakota, Trump says Justice Kennedy's retirement highlights need for more Republicans in Senate 
 
 
 
 
 
 Trump says Heidi Heitkamp will vote against Justice Kennedy's replacement President Trump blasted Democratic Sen. Heidi Heitkamp and touted Rep. Kevin Cramer in a Fargo, North Dakota, rally Wednesday night, as he made the case for electing more Republicans to the U.S. Senate. The retirement of Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy, Mr. Trump said, highlights the need for those in North Dakota and elsewhere to vote Republican come November. Cramer is vying to replace Heitkamp, who could be vulnerable in a state Mr. Trump won by 36 points. "We must elect more Republicans, we have to do that," the president said Wednesday night. The president has not voiced his top contenders to replace Kennedy since the retirement announcement, but in November the White House released a list of 25 possible names in the case of a vacancy. "We have to pick a great one," Mr. Trump said Wednesday night. "We have to pick one that's going to be there for 40 years, 45 years." The president said Heitkamp would simply vote as she is told -- unless, perhaps, political pressure forces her to vote for Mr. Trump's nominee. Heitkamp did vote to support Trump-appointed Justice Neil Gorsuch last year. After the rally, Heitkamp issued a statement saying she has "always been eager to work across the aisle" for North Dakota. "Anytime the president comes to North Dakota, that's a good thing for our state. While we saw election-year politics today, I'm always willing to work with the president if he's helping North Dakota - and if he's not, I'll speak up," Heitkamp said. "I don't answer to a political party or president, I only answer to North Dakotans who deserve an independent voice in the Senate. That's why I've always been eager to work across the aisle - including with the president - to get results for our state, and today's rally hasn't changed that." Read updates below from earlier tonight: 
 
 "We will make America loving again," Trump says, concluding rally Mr. Trump concluded his rally with typical lines, such as, "we will make America wealthy again" and "we will make America great again." But he added an unusual one Wednesday night. "We will make America loving again," he said. "Loving. Loving." 
 
 Trump bashes the "elite," says his supporters are the "super elite" Mr. Trump bashed "the elite," whom he described as "stone-cold losers." Mr. Trump said he and his supporters have nicer houses, and bigger brains. "We're the elite, you're the elite!" the president told the crowd, adding, "We are the super elite." 
 
 Space is the "new frontier," Trump says, touting "Space Force" Mr. Trump brought up one of his new favorite topics -- the "Space Force" he says he has directed the Pentagon to create. "Because space is the new frontier," Mr. Trump said. 
 
 "We're not starting a trade war, but we'll finish it" Mr. Trump said the U.S. will continue to push a hard line on trade. "We're not starting a trade war, but we'll finish it," Mr. Trump said. 
 
 Trump says Joe Crowley got his "a**" kicked Mr. Trump said Democrat Joe Crowley, who lost his primary race to a little-known 28-year-old challenger Tuesday night, "got his a** kicked." Mr. Trump called Crowley a "slovenly man" who lost to a woman with a lot of energy. 
 
 Trump touts record on veterans Mr. Trump talked about how his administration has improved the situation for veterans. "I wasn't a great student of the vets," Mr. Trump said. But then, Mr. Trump said, he read about the wait list for veterans, and thought of a brilliant policy -- allow any veteran to go to any doctor, with the government paying. "I said I am so smart. I am the smartest person," Mr. Trump said. Then he realized that some veteran advocates had been pushing for such a policy change for years, and the idea wasn't his. 
 
 Trump praises Justice Kennedy, muses about his successor Mr. Trump mentioned the announcement of the retirement of Justice Anthony Kennedy. He said he hopes Kennedy's replacement will serve for 40 or 45 years. "Justice Anthony Kennedy, a very special guy also, just announced a little while ago, his retirement from the United States Supreme Court. Great man. And I'm very honored that he chose to do it during my term in office because he felt confident in me..." the president said. Kennedy's retirement, Mr. Trump said, is the reason why the Senate needs more Republicans, not Democrats like Heitkamp. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has suggested a confirmation vote, however, would likely take place before November. "We must elect more Republicans, we have to do that," Mr. Trump said. Mr. Trump claimed Heitkamp, who voted to confirm Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch, would not likely vote for Kennedy's replacement. 
 
 Trump brings up "beauty" Maxine Waters Mr. Trump blasted Maxine Waters, a Democratic congresswoman who suggested on Twitter that people harass Trump administration officials, after White House press secretary was kicked out of a restaurant over the weekend. "Maxine, she is a beauty," Mr. Trump said. "I mean, she practically was telling people the other day to assault. Can you imagine if I said the kind of things that she said?" 
 
 Trump blasts Heidi Heitkamp Mr. Trump blasted Heitkamp for voting against the GOP tax plan, and attempt to repeal Obamacare. The president said North Dakota needs a senator who will vote like the people of North Dakota. 
 
 Kevin Cramer takes the stage The president welcomed Cramer on stage. Cramer praised Mr. Trump, particularly for standing for life. Mr. Trump also praised Cramer. "We need Kevin Cramer to replace liberal Democrat Heidi Heitkamp," Mr. Trump said. 
 
 Trump gives a shoutout to "My Pillow" man Mr. Trump gave a shoutout to Mike Lindell, the founder of the pillow brand "MyPillow" whose ads air on Fox News. Mr. Trump asked if supporters had ever seen him on Fox. "The 'My Pillow' guy," Mr. Trump said. 
 
 Trump takes the stage to cheers and applause Mr. Trump took the stage at 8:08 p.m. to "God Bless the USA" and cheers from the audience. Mr. Trump, as he usually does, clapped as he stepped towards the podium. Mr. Trump said the crowd was "packed." "The only thing more packed is outside, trying to get in. They're having a hard time, can't get in." 
 
 Trump to take the stage soon Mr. Trump is expected to take the stage any moment soon, in an arena packed with supporters. Supporters with "Make America Great Again" hats waited expectantly for the president to take the stage, facing signs that read "promises made" and "promises kept." 
 
 Trump lands in North Dakota Mr. Trump tweeted that he arrived in North Dakota shortly after 7 p.m. ET, 6 p.m. local time. Just landed in North Dakota with @SenJohnHoeven and @RepKevinCramer. We will see everyone at Scheels Arena shortly! pic.twitter.com/pakUigKB61 — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 27, 2018
– President Trump praised Anthony Kennedy during a rally in North Dakota Wednesday evening and said he is "honored" the Supreme Court justice made his bombshell retirement decision when he did. "I'm very honored that he chose to do it during my term in office, because he felt confident in me to make the right choice and carry on his great legacy," Trump said in Fargo, reports Politico. Trump didn't go into detail on potential successors, except to say the person would need "intellect." And he emphasized the ramifications: "We have to pick a great one that is going to be there for 40 years or 45 years." (The pick is expected to come from this list, notes Time.) As NPR reports, Trump also has begun casting the issue as an crucial one in the 2018 midterms, arguing that it's more important than ever that the GOP retain its grip on the Senate. "Justice Kennedy's retirement makes the issue of Senate control one of the vital issues of our time—the most important thing we can do," Trump told the crowd. He was there stumping for Rep. Kevin Cramer, the GOP challenger to Sen. Heidi Heitkamp, who is seen as one of the most vulnerable incumbent Democrats given that she represents a red state. "Heidi will vote no to any pick we make for the Supreme Court," he said, though NPR notes she was one of three Democrats to vote in favor of Trump's first pick, Neil Gorsuch.