Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (RFK Jr.) criticizes the removal of Donald Trump from the presidential primary ballots in Colorado and Maine.
In a recent episode of "The Story" on Fox News Channel, Martha MacCallum, the host of the program, asked RFK Jr. about his thoughts on the decision of the Supreme Court to remove Trump from the ballots due to an erroneous interpretation of the Fourteenth Amendment's "insurrection clause."
RFK Jr. did not mince words in denouncing the actions of the authorities in Colorado and Maine. He criticized the decision to remove Trump from the ballot, labeling it as "wrongheaded" and "counterproductive" despite running against Trump and declaring confidence in his ability to defeat him fairly.
Although he clarified that he is not a supporter of Trump, RFK Jr. emphasized the importance of a fair electoral process.
"I don't want to beat him on a slanted playing field. I think the American people want to see a fair fight. They want debates, they want real democracy. They want to be able to choose their candidate, their president not have a court choose it. And as you point out, I’ve read the decision and it makes no sense to me that you can deprive an American citizen of this right," he stated.
He went on to liken such actions to those of a "Banana Republic," implying a disregard for the democratic values the nation holds dear. "You know, that seems to violate due process, and it makes us look like a Banana Republic."
Furthermore, RFK Jr. warned that these attempts to sideline Trump could backfire. He concluded: "I think it’s going to hurt the people who are behind it. I think it turns Trump into a kind of a mythological figure. I think it’s very, very short-sighted and it’s just wrong; it’s un-American."
California wants to follow Colorado's lead
In December 2023, the decision of the Colorado Supreme Court to remove Trump from its primary ballot inspired California Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis to call on Secretary of State Shirley Weber to "explore every legal option" to do the same.
In a letter addressed to Weber, Kounalakis cited the controversial interpretation of Section 3 of the 14th Amendment of the Colorado Supreme Court, which disqualifies "officers" engaged in insurrection. She even argued that the decision was about honoring the Constitution.
"The decision is about honoring the rule of law in our country and protecting the fundamental pillars of democracy. California must stand on the right side of history. The Colorado decision can be the basis for a similar decision here in our state. The constitution is clear: you must be 35 years old and not be an insurrectionist," she wrote.
However, the National Pulse pointed out that the Constitution does not explicitly disqualify individuals based on insurrectionist activities. The outlet argued that the 14th Amendment's prohibitions only apply to "officers" who have fomented insurrection – a category that Trump, according to legal scholars, does not fall into.
The Colorado decision marked the first time a court found Trump ineligible to return to the White House due to the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. Experts noted that this interpretation of the Civil War-era provision was unprecedented. (Related: FBI closely monitoring Trump supporters in run-up to 2024 election.)
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