The possibility of former President Donald Trump being barred from the 2024 general elections is causing quite a stir. As discussions surrounding this topic intensify, a warning has been issued by a former strategist for President Barack Obama. David Axelrod, a political consultant, expressed his concerns about the potential disqualification of Trump and the negative consequences it could have.
During an interview on CNN’s “Erin Burnett OutFront,” Axelrod stated, “I have very, very strong reservations about all of this,” referring to the court decision to remove Trump’s name from the ballot. He went on to say that preventing Trump from running could potentially “rip the country apart” since there are tens of millions of people who want to vote for him. Axelrod believes that if Trump is to be defeated, it should happen through the democratic process at the polls.
Opinion polls consistently show Trump in a leading position both in the Republican primary race and in a hypothetical matchup with President Joe Biden. Axelrod also pointed out that disqualifying Trump would actually work to his advantage. He explained that Trump’s initial motivation for running was as a legal defense strategy, creating a narrative that he was being targeted to prevent him from becoming president. Axelrod cautioned that targeting Trump with disqualifications might only strengthen his candidacy.
“We’ve run this experiment, he’s only gained since he started getting indicted,” Axelrod said, emphasizing that what was expected to harm Trump has actually benefited him. He referred to the disqualification as a potential “battery pack” for Trump’s campaign.
The first ruling in favor of removing Trump from the ballot came from the Colorado state Supreme Court, citing his involvement in the insurrection as grounds for disqualification. However, other states such as Maine, Michigan, and California have decided to retain his name on their ballots for the 2024 polls. The disqualification rhetoric is based on Section 3 of the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which states that individuals who have engaged in insurrection should not hold public office.
In addition to the disqualification issue, Trump is facing numerous civil and criminal lawsuits, including allegations of election subversion and fraud. This adds another layer of complexity to the situation and raises questions about the potential implications for his candidacy.
As the debate surrounding Trump’s eligibility for the 2024 elections continues, it remains to be seen how these legal battles will unfold. The outcome will undoubtedly have significant ramifications for both Trump and the political landscape in the United States.
