President Donald Trump privately suggested to a small group of people at the Independence Day festivities at the White House on Wednesday that he has settled on a nominee to succeed retiring Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy, according to news reports Friday.
Citing "a person with direct knowledge of the matter" and "another person familiar with the negotiations," CNBC reported that President Trump "gave strong indications that he prefers D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Brett Kavanaugh."
Vice President Mike Pence "would throw his backing behind whoever the president nominates," according to the report.
Trump and Pence consider Kavanaugh "the safest choice to reel in undecided senators," in light of his "mixed opinions" on issues ranging from Obamacare to Roe v. Wade, the sources told CNBC.
Trump is expected to announce his nominee on Monday.
Kennedy, 81, who was nominated in 1987 by President Ronald Reagan, disclosed his retirement last week.
However, "the sources insisted that Trump could change his mind," the cable network reports, saying that other leading candidates include Federal Appellate Court Judges Raymond Kethledge in Washington, where Kavanaugh also sits, and Amy Coney Barrett in Chicago.
The three candidates met with Trump on Tuesday at the White House.
But a White House official told CNBC that President Trump "has yet to lay out his Supreme Court decision to his team and would not confirm or deny which candidate is favored to succeed Kennedy."
A Pence spokeswoman declined to comment.
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