The Senate handed President Donald Trump his biggest victory so far, confirming Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch after Republicans muscled past Democratic opposition with a unilateral rule change that may wind up poisoning the debate over the president’s agenda in Congress.

With Vice President Mike Pence in the presiding officer’s chair, the Senate voted 54-45 to confirm Gorsuch who, at age 49, is likely to help shape the court for decades to come. Trump is counting on him to reinstate a conservative-leaning 5-4 court under Chief Justice John Roberts.

“He has sterling credentials, an excellent record and an ideal judicial temperament. He has the independence of mind for fairness,” Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said on the Senate floor Friday before the vote.