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Legal Scholars Debate Whether 14th Amendment Bars Trump From 2024 Run

A close-up of the first printing of the final text of the U.S. Constitution, one of 11 known copies of the official printing produced for the delegates to Constitutional Convention and for the Continental Congress.
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Overview

  • Steven Calabresi initially argued Trump was ineligible, but changed his mind after reading an opinion piece arguing the 14th Amendment did not apply.
  • Debate centers on whether "officer of the United States" in the 14th Amendment refers to elected presidents or just appointed officials.
  • Calabresi's reversal has generated criticism, with some calling his new argument "genuinely stupid."
  • Two law professors published an article agreeing presidents are not "officers" under the 14th Amendment.
  • Overall there is continued disagreement among legal experts on whether the 14th Amendment disqualifies Trump from running again.