WASHINGTON (AP) – Donald Trump and John Roberts are not likely to rehash Trump’s criticism of the chief justice when they meet outside the Capitol at noon.
Instead, they will take part in a venerable pas de deux of American political life. A Bible between them, Roberts will administer the presidential oath, the two men will shake hands and Roberts will, for the time being, recede into the background.
Roberts and the rest of the Supreme Court probably will be called on to review Trump’s major undertakings as president. Trump could need Roberts’ vote on matters ranging from immigration to health care to environmental regulations.
Will it matter that in the course of the campaign, Trump referred to Roberts as “an absolute disaster” and “disgraceful,” mainly for Roberts’ two votes in defense of President Barack Obama’s health care overhaul? The pointed criticism of a justice by name was only one in a long list of unusual aspects of Trump’s campaign for the presidency.
The two men met briefly on Thursday to discuss details of the swearing-in, Supreme Court spokeswoman Kathy Arberg said.