In a fiery statement on Friday, former President Donald Trump issued a stark warning, asserting that there will be “big trouble” if the Supreme Court does not rule in his favor concerning his eligibility for the 2024 presidential ballot in Colorado. This follows the state’s Supreme Court decision last month, barring Trump from the primary ballot due to his alleged involvement in the January 6 insurrection.
Speaking at a rally in Iowa, Trump stated, “I just hope we get fair treatment because if we don’t, our country’s in big, big trouble. Does everybody understand what I’m saying?”
Trump also accused Democrats of trying to exert undue political influence by casting doubt on the court, citing his appointment of three justices.
“They’re saying, ‘Oh, Trump owns the Supreme Court, he owns it. He owns it. If they make a decision for him, it will be terrible. It’ll ruin their reputations,” he said. “‘He owns the Supreme Court. He put on three judges. He owns the Supreme Court. If they rule in his favor, it will be horrible for them. And we’ll protest at their houses.’”
Drawing parallels to legendary basketball coach Bobby Knight’s confrontational style, Trump criticized the tactics employed by Democrats, suggesting that such actions put undue pressure on decision-makers and force them into making the wrong choices.
The crux of the Colorado case revolves around the argument that Trump’s actions during the January 6 Capitol riots fall under the 14th Amendment’s “insurrection clause,” disqualifying individuals engaged in or supporting insurrection from holding office.
A Supreme Court decision in this case is anticipated to have far-reaching implications, potentially settling similar challenges in over a dozen states where Trump’s ballot qualifications have been contested, leading to his removal from the ballot in Maine on identical grounds.
