Trump’s Curtain Call
With an increasingly polarized nation practically doused in gasoline, the slightest spark can set the whole thing ablaze. In 2021, during the aftermath of a contentious election, the Jan. 6 insurrection proved just how true that statement would be. Insurrection, what was once an abstract concept for citizens of the United States, became a jarring reality with the attack on the Capitol that resulted in the death of five people as well as the breaching of the Senate chambers (The New York Times). The uprising delivered shockwaves throughout the nation, putting former President Donald Trump under further scrutiny for his inciting remarks. With the 2024 election fast approaching, questions about Trump’s eligibility for the position of president have risen again, with some states originally aiming to remove him from the ballot altogether. While a recent Supreme Court ruling has dashed the hopes of individual states, Congress still has the power to declare Trump unfit to run for election.
Leading up to the attack on the Capitol, Trump eagerly spread false information, claiming that the election was fraudulent and he was the true victor. Investigations by the House of Representatives reveal that he was so certain of his righteousness that he was willing to threaten state legislators and election administrators to get the results he wanted (Public Broadcasting Service). The speech he gave that day, in which he claimed the nation’s very future depended on his followers putting up a fight, further stoked the flame. Later that day, more than 2,000 of his supporters would violently storm the Capitol building, wreaking havoc in his name.
Colorado’s legal argument for removing Trump rests on the Insurrection Clause within the 14th amendment, which prohibits anyone who “engaged in insurrection” from holding civil, military or elected office without the approval of two-thirds of both the House of Representatives and the Senate. Trump’s engagement in insurrection is not difficult to discern, nor is his key role in inciting it. Prior to the attack on the Capitol on Jan. 6, he openly made comments such as “we fight like hell,” rallying his followers into a frenzy (National Public Radio). This statement, along with his outright denial of the results of the election, ultimately influenced the violent scene that played out in Washington D.C. later that day.
“When I heard about [the insurrection], I was surprised that it [the insurrection] had gotten so out of hand,” junior Suhani Parekh said. “It was a [breach] of security and there definitely was fault, [which] Trump is not admitting to. [While] people do learn from their mistakes and improve, Trump has not [shown that] he has learned from his mistakes, so he should not be eligible for presidency.”
The insurrection is hardly the first political controversy Trump has found himself entangled in, though it is by far the most extreme. In the past, he also received harsh criticism for his lack of security surrounding classified documents, as well as a phone call with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine in which Trump requested an outside investigation into his rival candidate, Joe Biden. This was considered an abuse of power on Trump’s part, and was the basis for his first impeachment (Associated Press). and abuses of power Similar criticisms have been made of his ardent supporters, with some, including Hillary Clinton, going so far as to refer to his voter base as a cult (The Washington Post).
Despite this, some inexplicably still look forward to seeing Trump return as president in 2024. Six voters sued the state of Colorado for their exclusion of Trump on the ballot, taking the case to Colorado’s courts. After the courts ruled against them, Trump appealed, taking the case to the Supreme Court (Columbia Broadcasting System). Voters have been fighting for Trump to remain on the ballot and the Supreme Court has ruled unanimously in his favor, claiming that states lack the authority to reject candidates on the grounds of inciting insurrection, leaving the issue of Trump’s inclusion up to Congress.
“[Trump] started an insurrection against the very government he is trying to run for, [which] is unconstitutional,” junior Theseus Beeson said. “He is a criminal and not fit for office, and Colorado is absolutely right to take him off the ballot.”
Given that Trump was willing to raise hell over losing one election, many citizens are concerned about what would happen were he to lose another — or worse, if he were to win. In light of this, the movement to keep Trump off the ballot is a nationwide one. Voters in Maine further petitioned to erase his name, with a response pending on the ruling of the Supreme Court (The Guardian). While it is primarily Democrats fighting to keep Trump’s name off ballots, the issue is bipartisan. Republicans, such as former presidential candidate John Anthony Castro, have also opposed Trump, though often with little success.
“[Trump] would be a major threat to national security [if he was re-elected],” senior and Boys and Girls State attendee Christopher Yeh said. “He has already shown that he is [generally] untrustworthy [and] cannot be trusted with classified documents. Given his controversies and potential criminal record, [Re-electing him] would not have the best interests [of the U.S. at heart].”
The heart of the nation lies with its president, and the values they exemplify. Re-electing Trump will not just be a minor nuisance, but an active danger to both the nation’s safety and its moral upstanding. A man who has repeatedly proven himself to be volatile and has consistently disregarded the nation’s security should not be in the running for its most serious position. Take the knife off of democracy’s throat, and take Trump off the ballot for good.
