US Supreme Court judge backtracks on Trump comments

Ruth Bader Ginsburg, 83, also expressed fear about Trump making it to the White House, though stopped short of an outright apology.

She was criticised for her remarks in recent days, which were thought to overstep judicial boundaries.

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

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

On the issue of a Trump presidency, the Supreme Court judge told the Associated Press last week: “I don’t want to think about that possibility, but if it should be, then everything is up for grabs.”

In an interview with the New York Times on Sunday, the jurist suggested she may emigrate in the event of a Trump victory.

“I can’t imagine what the country would be with Donald Trump as our president. For the country, it could be four years.”

And she was even more worried about the future composition of the court, saying: For the court, it could be – I don’t even want to contemplate that.”

On Monday, she told CNN that Mr Trump is a “faker” who “has no consistency about him”

She said: “He says whatever comes into his head at the moment. He really has an ego.

“How has he gotten away with not turning over his tax returns? The press seems to be very gentle with him on that.”