President Biden told reporters Wednesday it is “self-evident” that Donald Trump is an insurrectionist after the Colorado Supreme Court ordered the ex-president’s name removed from next year’s Republican primary ballots.
Biden, who is behind Trump in most polls, at first said he would not comment on the Tuesday night court ruling before proceeding to do exactly that upon arrival in Milwaukee for an economy-focused speech.
“I’m not going to comment on a court case … That’s up to the court. That’s all I have to say about it,” the 81-year-old president began as he addressed the press near Air Force One.
But Biden couldn’t resist addressing the case when one reporter asked about his rival: “Is Trump an insurrectionist?”
“Well, I think certain things are self-evident,” the president answered. “You saw it all. Now whether the 14th Amendment applies, I’ll let the court make that decision.
“But he certainly supported an insurrection,” Biden went on. “No question about it. None. Zero. And he seems to be doubling down on about everything.”
“I think that certainly is self-evident,” Biden said. “You saw it all. Now whether the 14th Amendment applies, I’ll let the court make that decision.” AFP via Getty Images
Trump was removed from the 2024 ballot in Colorado by a court. AFP via Getty Images
The criminal charges against Trump do not specifically accuse him of instigating or supporting insurrection, which disqualifies candidates for high office. REUTERSTrump, 77, is appealing the Colorado ruling and the matter is likely to be decided by the US Supreme Court.
The former president was impeached by the House of Representatives during his final days in office for allegedly inciting the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the Capitol, in which thousands of his supporters stormed the building to disrupt certification of Biden’s 2020 election victory.
Trump was acquitted by the Senate of the charge, which required a two-thirds majority for conviction.
The 45th president is already the first former chief executive to face criminal charges following his indictments in four separate criminal cases — two of them dealing with his challenges to the 2020 election, one of them pertaining to his post-presidency handling of national security documents and the fourth regarding concealment of hush-money payments during his 2016 campaign.
The criminal charges against Trump do not specifically accuse him of instigating or supporting insurrection, which the Constitution says disqualifies candidates for high office.
