But only after making signals that he would be accepting of it so they create the opening and then say "we have a mandate from the population, we will appoint the replacement! We'd like to welcome in advance Aileen Cannon to the SCOTUS for her service in defending Donald Trump despite the actual law."

Would he though? If the new justice isn’t as liberal-leaning, even if they are bit younger I imagine he would take that deal. I mean, put yourself in the shoes of a liberal. If you could replace Clarence Thomas with a slightly more moderate republican, you would probably do that.