Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito said Sunday that escalating political rhetoric and attempts to influence the justices could threaten the Supreme Court’s long-term standing and independence.

In a rare interview, Alito said the justices have faced an increasingly intense effort from public figures to pressure the court over its decisions, raising concerns about the institution’s future.

“There has been a concerted effort to intimidate the court and justices on the court to try to influence us to decide cases,” Alito told Fox News. “I am concerned about the future of the court.”

Alito, 76, said he and the other eight justices try to tune out political attacks and public statements about pending cases. His comments come as the court prepares to begin a new term while facing historically low public approval.

A Gallup survey conducted Sept. 1-17 found that just 34% of Americans approve of the Supreme Court’s job performance, essentially matching the record-low 33% measured in July. Sixty-one percent disapprove, while only 46% say they have a great deal or fair amount of trust in the federal judicial branch.

The court has become a major target of political criticism from both sides, particularly after consequential rulings on abortion, presidential authority and other contentious issues. President Trump has also publicly criticized justices he appointed when they have ruled against his administration, including Justices Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett.

Alito did not directly respond to Trump’s recent criticism of his colleagues but warned about the broader impact of attacks from political figures.

“I am concerned about the escalation in public rhetoric in general and about the things that people in important positions say about the Supreme Court as a whole and about individual justices,” Alito said. He added that he was concerned about the “long-term effect” of such rhetoric on the court’s standing.

The justice also revisited the 2022 leak of a draft opinion that ultimately led to the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade. The leak marked an unprecedented breach of confidentiality at the court, and its source has never been publicly identified.

Alito said he has his own view about who was responsible for the leak but acknowledged that the available evidence is not strong enough for him or the court to publicly identify the person.

“I do have an opinion,” Alito said, “but the evidence available at this time is not strong enough for the court or for me to say this is the person who was responsible.”

The comments come as the Supreme Court enters a new term with public confidence already near historic lows, putting renewed attention on the political pressure surrounding the nine-member institution.