Judge Judy Sheindlin says if you don't 'like' America, 'go somewhere else' - USA Today

GREENWICH, Conn. – Judge Judy may be finished with politics, but she's not afraid to get political.

During a wide-ranging conversation in her home, the former family court judge and TV personality tells USA TODAY why she's done endorsing candidates but still believes America is "the greatest country in the world."

In reflecting on her record in court before becoming a TV star, the judge, born Judith Sheindlin, admits she hasn't given much thought to the idea of term limits in the Supreme Court.

"There's always an issue with a lifetime appointment," Sheindlin, 83, says. "You always have to know when to say goodbye, to whatever it is."

Her focus turns to age. The judge jokes that both her and her husband, former New York State Supreme Court justice Jerry Sheindlin, aren't getting older: They're just old.

"I certainly wouldn't like to see an 84-year-old president of the United States," she laments.

At the end of his term in 2024, President Biden was 82. President Trump turned 80 on June 14 and has two years left on his term. She believes the ideal window for leaders is between the ages of 50 and 75, "when you've gathered a certain amount of life's experience."

"That's 25 years of great talent," she says. "And I don't see why we have to mess around with somebody growing up in office or somebody dying."

As for any endorsements, Sheindlin has only backed two candidates publicly: Michael Bloomberg and Nikki Haley. Both failed to win their respective party's nomination.

"I haven't dipped my toes in politics since, because it's a disgusting business," she says. "And one of the reasons that we don't have super-qualified people running for public office is the internet and mainstream media."

Sheindlin believes that people who could help the country don't want to deal with the "daily colonoscopy" of the internet digging into potentially embarrassing details of their background.

"I agreed to put my money where my mouth was and come out and support them," she says of her past endorsements. "I don't think anybody's going to ask me again because my two candidates lost."

In thinking about what she hopes for this next year (Sheindlin will turn 84 on Oct. 21), the TV personality responds with "peace." She then moves into territory that sounds far less pollyanna.

"If you don't like this country, go somewhere else," she says. "Don't come to the greatest country in the world, the most successful country in the world and say, 'I want to change it.' There are other countries that have the something else that you want. Go there."

Sheindlin knows she's veering into the political arena with her comments. She doesn't care.

"We are a capitalist country that revered excellence, that revered entrepreneurship, that revered all the things that made us great," she continues, listing the creation of the polio vaccine, Apple, Amazon and even AI advancements, of which she notes, "Whether you like it or not, it's there."

"We did that because we encouraged brilliance and excellence," she adds. "Those people pushed me. You said, 'Everybody should be equal.' Well, everybody's not equal. Some people are tall. Some people are short. Some people are musical. Some people are not. Some people have big breasts. Some people have no breasts. They're different."

Sheindlin is marking the 30th anniversary of "Judge Judy" premiering on TV with CBS airing a 90-minute special Tuesday Sept. 22, that looked back at the judge's life and career. Celebrities that took part in the program included Steven Spielberg, Samuel L. Jackson, Amy Poehler and RuPaul Charles.

The judge credits the longevity of her show and the diverse following to her experience in court. She spent 40 years as a judge, 25 of which came in family court. She says "other people with celebrity who have absolutely no experience with the law" or other life experiences can't bring the same amount of gravitas to an audience. She calls their attempts to do so "amusing."

"Just as I would not comment on whether or not the United States should continue to build nuclear weapons or ICBM missiles, or I wouldn't comment on who should be the next fed chair," she continues. "Because I know nothing about it."