Justice Samuel Alito has slammed the door on overeager Republicans’ hopes for a Trump-packed Supreme Court.

Some Republicans have suggested the 74-year-old justice could step down to let President-elect Donald Trump appoint a younger conservative.

Donald Trump's 2024 win means that he could enshrine far-right conservatism even further in the U.S. Supreme Court — but Justice Samuel Alito is standing in the way. Given Alito's age of 74, there was speculation that he and Justice Clarence Thomas,

Republicans have argued that it would be wise for Alito, who was appointed by President George W. Bush in 2006, and Justice Clarence Thomas, who is 76 and was appointed by President George H.W. Bush in 1991, to resign in favor of younger candidates who could continue the court’s conservative stance for many years to come.

On Friday evening, just as reporters were logging off, the Supreme Court let slip a clue about whether it would take up cases that could determine the outcome of a close election in the coming weeks. Specifically, the hint came in a statement from Justice Samuel Alito. Spoiler: He’s open to it.