Former Texas Gov. Rick Perry said Tuesday the importance of naming conservative Supreme Court justices is a major reason he has thrown his support behind presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump.
“When you think about what’s going to happen over the next four years, and what has the possibility and probability of impacting America for the next 40 or 50 years, it is the Supreme Court,” Perry told CNN’s Chris Cuomo on “New Day.” “I’m a lot more comfortable with Donald Trump choosing an individual that is going to be on the Supreme Court that’s going to impact policies my children are going to be affected by than Hillary Clinton.”
The former 2016 presidential candidate, who threw his support to Ted Cruz, now says he backs Trump. But earlier in the primary season, Perry had called the business mogul a “cancer to conservatism” and a “barking carnival act.”
Perry said Tuesday his comments were a natural part of presidential primary politics.
“During the heat of battle a lot of people say things,” Perry said. “Anyone who pays attention to American politics know there are things that are said, and after you get your intramurals over with, you get back together and you support the team, and that’s what’s going on here.”
Perry has left the door open to serving as Trump’s vice president, if asked.
“I am going to be open to anyway I can help. I am not going to say no,” Perry told CNN last week.