Supreme Court to rule if Trump can run for president

The United States Supreme Court has announced that it will hear a landmark case to determine whether former President Donald Trump can run for the presidency again. The justices have consented to review Mr. Trump's appeal against a decision by the state of Colorado to exclude him from the 2024 ballot. The case is scheduled for February, and the ruling will have nationwide implications.

Several states have initiated lawsuits seeking to disqualify Mr. Trump, alleging his involvement in the insurrection during the US Capitol riot three years ago. These legal challenges are predicated on a Civil War-era constitutional amendment, which they argue makes Mr. Trump ineligible to stand as a candidate. The Supreme Court's decision to hear Mr. Trump's appeal was prompted by a brief filed by attorneys general from 27 states, urging the court to overturn Colorado's ruling. They contend that excluding Mr. Trump from the ballot would result in widespread chaos and confusion in the upcoming election cycle.

Mr. Trump's legal team has argued that the 14th Amendment of the US Constitution, which prohibits anyone who has engaged in insurrection or rebellion from holding federal office, does not apply to the president. They further argue that the Colorado Supreme Court's decision would unconstitutionally disenfranchise millions of voters in Colorado and potentially tens of millions nationwide. In addition to Colorado, Mr. Trump has also appealed against a similar decision by electoral officials in Maine. Following the Supreme Court's announcement, Colorado's Secretary of State confirmed that Mr. Trump's name will appear on the state's primary ballots, which will help determine the presidential candidates for November's election.