El Salvador President Nayib Bukele has mocked the United States as Colorado ruled to block Donald Trump from the 2024 Presidential primary ballot, saying America no longer has any international moral authority to advocate for democracy.
On Twitter, Mr. Bukele wrote, “The United States has lost its ability to lecture any other country about democracy.” His remarks were met with a mixed response, but it was clear that many Americans agreed. One person replied, “We absolutely have no moral high ground. I will be looking into Salvadoran immigration options.”
Bukele wrote the comments in response to news that Colorado’s Supreme Court ruled Trump would not be included in the state’s primary ballots because he is disqualified from office under the 14th Amendment to the Constitution. The Amendment bars those guilty of insurrection from holding high office in Washington, DC. Trump proponents point out that the former President has not been convicted of insurrection, while Mr. Trump says he will refer the matter to the US Supreme Court.
Meanwhile, Maine has become the second state to kick Donald Trump off the ballot paper. Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, a Democrat, declared the former President ineligible because his part in January 6, 2021, means he is guilty of insurrection. Unlike Colorado, however, the Maine decision was not upheld or determined by the Courts, and pressure on the US Supreme Court to rule on the matter will now likely increase.
Mr. Trump was furious about the declaration by Bellows and described it as “partisan election interference.”
Ms. Bellows acknowledged the enormity of her decision and admitted it was unprecedented but added, “I am also mindful, however, that no Presidential candidate has ever before engaged in insurrection.” She argued that Trump’s “occasional requests that rioters be peaceful” do not “immunize” him. She added that the former President knew his refusal to accept the 2020 Presidential election result could lead to the disorder and law-breaking witnessed on January 6.
