Judge apologises for branding Trump a ‘faker’

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg apologised on Thursday for publicly disparaging Donald Trump as a phoney with a big ego.

Ms. Ginsburg (83) shocked the U.S. political establishment with her remarks: on Monday she had called Mr. Trump “a faker” who “says whatever comes into his head at the moment”.

She also told The New York Times in an interview published last weekend that she “can’t imagine” what the United States under Mr. Trump as President would be like.

Ms. Ginsburg issued a statement on Thursday saying she was sorry.

“On reflection, my recent remarks in response to press inquiries were ill-advised and I regret making them,” Ms. Ginsburg said.

“Judges should avoid commenting on a candidate for public office. In the future I will be more circumspect,” she added.

In response to the criticism, Mr. Trump had suggested the judge should step down.

“Justice Ginsburg of the US Supreme Court has embarrassed all by making very dumb political statements about me. Her mind is shot — resign!” he tweeted on Wednesday.

Ms. Ginsburg drew widespread ire from Republicans for breaking with a code of conduct under which U.S. judges are not supposed to publicly endorse or oppose a presidential candidate for office.