Donald Trump secured a victory on Wednesday in the face of challenges to his eligibility for the White House.
Michigan's supreme court declined to hear an appeal by voters in the state seeking to disqualify Trump from the upcoming presidential primary. The voters invoked a clause in the US Constitution, citing insurrection, based on Trump's role in the 2021 Capitol riots.
The voters contended that Trump, a leading candidate for the 2024 Republican nomination, could not legally hold the presidency under a constitutional provision barring individuals from office if they participated in "insurrection or rebellion" after swearing allegiance to the United States.
The Michigan court's order stated it was "not persuaded that the questions presented should be reviewed by this Court".
Responding to the decision, Trump posted on his Truth Social site, asserting that the court "strongly and rightfully denied" what he labelled a "desperate Democrat attempt" to remove him from the Michigan ballot.
Background
The development in Michigan comes after a ruling on December 19 in Colorado, where justices determined that Section 3 of the 14th Amendment applies to presidential candidates. Consequently, Donald Trump was deemed ineligible for the election due to his role in the January 6, 2021 insurrection, leading to his removal from the primary ballot.
The Colorado Supreme Court decided to postpone the enforcement of their ruling until January 4, allowing the U.S. Supreme Court the opportunity to potentially intervene.
Currently, the U.S. Supreme Court has not confirmed its intention to hear the case, but its decision could significantly impact the 2024 presidential election, especially in light of the recent ruling in Michigan.
The central issue revolves around the Trump's eligibility, and it is widely anticipated that the U.S. Supreme Court will play a definitive role in settling this matter. Challenges to Trump's eligibility have been filed in over 30 states, with many of these already dismissed.
