Former President Donald Trump has been granted permission to remain on Colorado’s presidential ballot following a ruling by the US Supreme Court on Monday. The decision effectively puts an end to legal attempts by critics to disqualify Trump on grounds of being an “insurrectionist,” as the justices determined that states do not have the authority to unilaterally remove him from the ballot.
In a unanimous opinion, the Supreme Court overturned the ruling in Colorado, emphasizing that the responsibility of enforcing the 14th Amendment against federal officeholders and candidates lies with Congress, not individual states.
Trump had appealed to the US Supreme Court after the Colorado Supreme Court disqualified him from the state’s ballot under section three of the 14th Amendment. This section prohibits individuals from holding public office if they have previously taken an oath of office and then engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the United States or provided aid or comfort to its enemies.
Colorado was the first state to take action against Trump’s presence on the ballot, sparking a wave of lawsuits across the country challenging his candidacy. States like Maine and Illinois had also followed suit, but the Supreme Court’s ruling on Monday effectively put an end to these cases by asserting that states do not have the authority to remove federal candidates from the ballot.
