WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden said Tuesday that he thought it was “good” for the former president Donald Trump to remain on the ballot in this year’s election.
“I think that’s fine,” Biden said in response to a reporter’s question about Trump being “let in the vote.”
The president made the remarks shortly before boarding Marine One for a trip to Joint Base Andrews, Florida.
Last month, Biden said Trump “certainly supports the insurgency.”
“Regardless of whether the 14th amendment applies or not, I will take this decision to court.” Biden said December 20 journalists.
Biden’s comments on Tuesday come as the Supreme Court prepares to hear oral arguments on the Colorado ballot next week, which could affect whether Trump remains on the primary ballot in that state and others.
The Colorado Supreme Court ruled last month Trump broke it A provision of the United States 14th Amendment to the Constitutionit states that an “officer of the United States” who is “engaged in treason” cannot hold office and is therefore ineligible as a candidate.
Trump’s lawyers they argued that the president is not considered an “officer of the United States” and that the former president is not “engaged in rebellion.”
“The court should withdraw on these grounds and end this unconstitutional disqualification effort once and for all,” Trump’s lawyers said in a statement. short submitted to the Supreme Court this month.
There is Biden often framed He often points to the January 6 uprising, pointing out that the November elections are about preserving democracy.
“This is the first national election that has put a dagger in the throat of American democracy since the January 6th uprising – since then. We all know who Donald Trump is,” Biden said in his speech about democracy three years after the January 6th uprising. . “The question we have to answer is: Who are we? It’s at stake.”
On Tuesday, one reporter asked the president why Trump is leading in the polls “if, as you say, he’s a threat to democracy.”
“Because there are guys like you,” Biden said, laughing before saying he was joking.
Diana Paulsen contributed.