Former President Donald Trump has scored a major victory in his bid to return to the White House in 2024. The Supreme Court ruled on Thursday that he can appear on the presidential ballots in all 50 states, despite facing criminal charges in New York.
The court’s 5-4 decision, with the conservative justices in the majority, overturned a lower court ruling that barred Trump from running for office while under indictment. The lower court had argued that allowing Trump to run would undermine the rule of law and the integrity of the electoral process.
But the Supreme Court disagreed, saying that the Constitution does not prohibit a person from seeking the presidency even if they are accused of a crime. The court said that the voters have the ultimate power to decide who should lead the nation, and that blocking Trump from the ballot would violate his First Amendment rights.
Trump, who has denied any wrongdoing and called the charges against him a “witch hunt”, hailed the ruling as a “great victory for the American people”. He said that he is confident that he will win the 2024 election and restore “law and order, prosperity and freedom” to the country.
Trump’s potential rivals, however, expressed dismay and outrage at the court’s decision. President Joe Biden, who defeated Trump in 2020, said that the ruling was a “dangerous precedent” that could encourage future candidates to flout the law and evade accountability. He said that he will campaign hard to prevent Trump from returning to power and undoing the progress that his administration has made.
Other possible contenders for the 2024 race, such as Vice President Kamala Harris, Senator Bernie Sanders, and former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley, also criticized the ruling and vowed to challenge Trump in the primaries and the general election. They said that Trump is unfit to be president and that he poses a threat to democracy, human rights, and national security.
The Supreme Court’s ruling comes as Trump faces a trial in New York on charges of tax fraud, bank fraud, and insurance fraud. He is accused of inflating and deflating the value of his assets to avoid taxes and obtain loans. He is also being investigated for possible obstruction of justice, campaign finance violations, and abuse of power during his presidency.
If convicted, Trump could face up to 15 years in prison and millions of dollars in fines. He could also lose his properties, businesses, and assets that are subject to forfeiture. However, he could still run for president from behind bars, as the Constitution does not require a candidate to be physically present in the country.
The Supreme Court’s ruling has set the stage for a heated and divisive 2024 election, with Trump and his loyal supporters on one side, and his opponents and critics on the other. The outcome of the election could have profound implications for the future of the US and the world, as the two sides have starkly different visions and policies on issues such as the economy, health care, immigration, climate change, and foreign affairs.
As the country braces for another round of political turmoil and uncertainty, many Americans hope that the election will be fair, peaceful, and respectful, and that the voters will make the best choice for the nation and the planet.
Source: Bloomberg
