Ted Cruz shuts down Trump Supreme Court talk with a fiery 'not just no, but hell no'

Sen.

Ted Cruz, R-Texas, has dismissed speculation about a potential Supreme Court nomination, saying his response to President Donald Trump would be "not just no, but hell no." Speaking on the "Hang Out with Sean Hannity" podcast, Cruz said he would rather remain in politics than serve on the Supreme Court.

"So look, my answer is not just no, but hell no.

And listen, I don't say that lightly.

I mean, it’s a big deal.

The court is an institution I revere," Cruz told Hannity.

ALITO NOT EXPECTED TO RETIRE THIS TERM, COOLING SUPREME COURT VACANCY SPECULATION: SOURCES "And a lot of people are surprised, because I've spent an awful lot of my professional life around the court, in the court.

And for so many people, it is their life dream to do," he added.

Trump has floated Cruz’s name for the Supreme Court in the past, joking he’d be the only nominee to get "100% of the Democrat vote, 100% of the Republican vote" because lawmakers would want to "get him out" of Congress .

TRUMP CHEERS ALITO STAYING FOR ANOTHER SUPREME COURT TERM: 'ONE OF THE GREATEST OF ALL TIME' Before entering politics, Cruz graduated from Princeton University and got his law degree from Harvard Law School.

After law school, he clerked for Chief Justice William Rehnquist and later worked in private practice.

During his conversation with Hannity, Cruz called Trump a "good friend," despite their rivalry during the 2016 Republican presidential primary.

He also said that federal judges typically have to stay out of politics and policy battles.

SUPREME COURT CHIEF JUSTICE PINPOINTS WHAT AMERICANS MISUNDERSTAND ABOUT HIM AND HIS COLLEAGUES "Because a principled federal judge stays out of politics and stays out of policy fights," Cruz said of why he would not want a seat on the bench.