Ruth Bader Ginsburg made her first public appearance since her December cancer surgery on Monday, disproving far-right conspiracy theorists who speculated that the 85-year-old was hiding a serious illness, or was dead.
The Supreme Court justice attended the debut showing of the dramatic concert Notorious R.B.G. in Song, written and performed by her daughter-in-law, soprano Patrice Michael, The Washington Post reported.
Ginsburg sat silently at the back of the theater for the concert that took place at the National Museum of Women in the Arts in Washington, D.C., The Post reported.
Well-known as a music-lover, Ginsburg is an avid opera fan. The justice became an opera star herself in 2016, when she performed a speaking role in the Washington National Opera's performance of The Daughter of the Regiment, as NBC News previously noted.
"Thrilled that Justice Ginsburg attended the first concert performance of #NotoriousRBG in Song. She, Patrice Michaels, and the performance were magnificent," Jeffrey Rosen, CEO and president of the National Constitution Center, tweeted Monday. The Constitution Center put on the show.
Whether Ginsburg will attend President Donald Trump's State of the Union address on Tuesday evening has not been confirmed; it is not mandatory that she do so. She has not previously attended a Trump State of the Union address.
Ginsburg underwent surgery on December 21 to remove cancerous nodules from one of her lungs. She missed an oral argument at the Supreme Court for the first time in her career, in spite of previous surgeries for colon cancer and pancreatic cancer and the placement of a coronary stent.
Although the justice has been working from home during her recovery period—which usually lasts around six to eight weeks for the type of surgery she had, according to Medline Plus—conspiracy theorists speculated that she was hiding a graver illness. Some, including Trump supporter Jacob Wohl, infamous for his failed attempt to smear special counsel Robert Mueller with false sexual assault allegations, even suggested the justice had died and that her death was being covered up.
Still unsatisfied that the justice was alive and well, Wohl questioned her attendance at Monday's show on Twitter. "After not being seen for a month, WaPo says that Ruth Bader Ginsburg attended a play. Except no one snapped a picture. And 'It is unlikely that Ginsburg will go to the Capitol on Tuesday.' Smells like FAKE NEWS! #WheresRuth," Wohl tweeted.
Ginsburg's death or resignation would allow Trump to appoint a third Supreme Court justice, and would likely move the Court further to the right. At present, conservative justices hold five of the Court's nine seats.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
Katherine Hignett is a reporter based in London. She currently covers current affairs, health and science. Prior to joining Newsweek ... Read more
To read how Newsweek uses AI as a newsroom tool, Click here.
