US Supreme Court rules unanimously: States may not unilaterally disqualify Trump

The US Supreme Court ruled today in Trump v. Anderson (Monday) that states may not unilaterally bar Trump from being elected President on the grounds of having engaged in insurrection, arguing that only Congress possesses this power.

The Colorado Supreme Court had ruled in favor of residents petitioning to take Trump off the ballot on the grounds that he had engaged in insurrection against the United States due to his actions during the January 6 riot, when a mob entered the Capitol building as Congress was affirming the results of the 2020 Presidential election.

As such, Trump was ineligible to run for office under Section 3 of the 14th amendment, which excluded people who did so from being elected.

The court then ordered the state Secretary of State to exclude Trump from the ballot and disregard any write-in votes for him.

The Supreme Court, after hearing oral arguments, issued a unanimous ruling that only Congress may pass laws regarding the enforcement of Section 3, not states, and the decision is therefore reversed.

The way is thus now cleared for Trump, who looks ready to win the Republican nomination for President, to be on the ballot in all 50 states and US territories.