The US Supreme Court has rejected Colorado state attempts to remove Donald Trump from the ballot for president.
He can now remain on the ballot for president in the state after the court rejected claims he was accountable for the Capitol riots in 2021.
On his social media platform after the ruling, Trump wrote: “BIG WIN FOR AMERICA!!!”
Trump is the frontrunner for the Republican nomination to challenge Democratic president Joe Biden in November’s US election.
His only remaining rival for his party’s nomination is former South Carolina governor, Nikki Haley.
The Colorado Supreme Court said in December Trump could not stand for election in the state because he had “engaged in insurrection or rebellion”.
The judges ruled Trump was disqualified because he had incited the 6 January riot at the Capitol building in Washington DC in an attempt to overturn his loss in the 2020 presidential election.
The 14th Amendment’s Section 3 bars from office any “officer of the United States” who took an oath “to support the Constitution of the United States” and then “engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof”.
“We conclude that states may disqualify persons holding or attempting to hold state office.
“But states have no power under the Constitution to enforce Section 3 with respect to federal offices, especially the presidency,” the unsigned opinion for the court stated.
A police officer outside the Supreme Court building in Washington DC following Monday’s ruling. Pic: Reuters
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The justices found that only Congress can enforce the provision against federal officeholders and candidates.
Trump was also barred from the ballot in Maine and Illinois based on the 14th Amendment, but those decisions were put on hold pending the Supreme Court’s ruling in the Colorado case.
The former president’s eligibility had been challenged in court by a group of six voters in Colorado – four Republicans and two independents – who portrayed him as a threat to American democracy and sought to hold him accountable for the 6 January riots.
In a bid to prevent Congress from certifying Mr Biden’s 2020 election victory, Trump supporters attacked police, broke through barricades and swarmed the Capitol.
Trump had given an incendiary speech to supporters beforehand, repeating his false claims of widespread voting fraud and telling them to go to the Capitol and “fight like hell”.
Then, for a number of hours, he ignored requests for him to urge the mob to stop.
The ruling came on the eve of Super Tuesday – the day in the US presidential primary cycle when the most states hold party nominating contests.
Well, I guess he’ll be on the ballot. I don’t like it, but I guess it’s the law.
I don’t know what to think about this. I guess we’ll just have to wait and see what happens.
I’m not sure what to think about this. I guess we’ll just have to wait and see what happens.
I find this ruling to be absurd! How can someone who is so clearly unfit for office be allowed to run for president? This is a travesty of justice!
I don’t care what the Supreme Court says. I’m not voting for Trump.
I’m not surprised by this ruling. The Supreme Court has a history of making decisions that favor the powerful.
This is a sad day for America. I can’t believe that the Supreme Court would allow such a dangerous man to stay on the ballot.
I think it’s important to remember that the Supreme Court is not infallible. They can make mistakes, just like anyone else.
I’m not sure how I feel about this. I don’t like Trump, but I also don’t like the idea of the Supreme Court interfering in elections.
I don’t like it one bit. I think it is a bad idea. Why should he be allowed to stay on the ballot? He should be disqualified!
I’m glad that the Supreme Court ruled in favor of Trump. He’s the best candidate for the job.
This is a disgrace! The Supreme Court has no business making decisions about elections.