Trump meets four potential Supreme Court candidates

"I had a very, very interesting morning," did he says.

Trump said that he was planning to make a decision on the Supreme Court candidate this week and announce the decision on Monday. The new justice will succeed justice

Anthony Kennedy,

who said last week that he planned to retire

This marks the second judge that Mr. Trump will appoint to the high court since he took office 18 months ago. The candidate will have to be confirmed in the Senate, where the Republicans have a majority of 51 to 49 years

. Trump has called confidants and friends for advice on who he should choose, said a person familiar with the case.

Among the names most frequently cited as the first: Thomas Hardiman of the Third Circuit Court of Appeals of the United States Circuit in Philadelphia; Raymond Kethledge, Sixth Circuit Cincinnati; Brett Kavanaugh, District of Columbia Circuit; Amy Coney Barrett of the Chicago-based Seventh Circuit; and another judge of the Sixth Circuit, Amul Thapar.

The White House said Monday that it was setting up a dedicated team to help select a candidate for the Supreme Court. new direction for the court on abortion rights and other issues and shaping Mr. Trump's legacy.

Raj Shah,

now the deputy press secretary of the White House will leave this role to oversee communications and strategy on choosing the high court and help coordinate messages with the allies on Capitol Hill, press secretary

Sarah Sanders

said in a statement Monday

Justin Clark, who now heads the public liaison office, will monitor outreach to constituency and outside interest groups as the White House is trying to build coalitions supporting the candidate.

Don McGahn

will lead the search for a candidate to replace Judge Kennedy and will lead the "overall confirmation process," Ms. Sanders said.

McGahn will lead teams of lawyers from his office and the Department of Justice to help Trump select a candidate.

Write to Peter Nicholas at [email protected]