Hold onto your red hats, MAGA fans. Looks like the SCOTUS your guy packed with conservatives may end up giving Donny the boot. We’re talking getting kicked right off those 2020 ballots. How’s that for irony? Forget all the winning. If this lawsuit goes through, the biggest loser could turn out to be Trump himself. Turns out even hand-picked justices can still surprise you. But before cheering too loud, liberals, let’s see if this long shot case actually sticks. Sure would make 2020 way more interesting! Either way, Trump’s ‘so much winning’ may get a big Supreme Court smackdown. Now that would be pwnage.
Trump’s Relationship With the Supreme Court He Remade
Donald Trump appointed three justices to the Supreme Court, giving conservatives a 6-3 majority. You’d think that would mean smooth sailing for his policies and priorities. But the relationship between Trump and the court he helped shape has been complicated.
On some big cases, the justices Trump put on the bench – Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett – have ruled in line with conservative hopes. They upheld travel restrictions from some majority-Muslim countries, made it easier for employers to deny birth control coverage on religious grounds, and struck down a Louisiana abortion law.
Yet on other high-profile issues, Trump’s appointees have proved unreliable allies. In 2020, the court ruled against the administration’s attempt to end DACA, the program that protects undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. as children. The next year, Trump’s tax returns stayed private after the court rejected his broad claims of immunity from criminal investigation.
Most stinging of all was the court’s 2020 decision blocking Trump’s plan to end the DACA program. Chief Justice John Roberts, who was appointed by George W. Bush and not Trump, wrote the opinion. But Gorsuch also joined the liberal justices in the majority. Trump furiously tweeted that the rulings were “horrible” and “shotgun blasts into the face of people that are proud to call themselves Republicans.”
While the justices Trump appointed have shifted the court to the right, they have shown a willingness to check presidential overreach and uphold the law. Despite reshaping the Supreme Court in his image, Trump was denied the absolute victory he craved. For a president obsessed with winning, the court he remade was not always on his side. Maybe there’s not so much winning after all.
Legal Challenges That Could Get Trump Kicked Off State Ballots
Several cases working their way through the courts could pose major problems for Trump’s re-election bid. Two in particular stand out as potential ballot busters:
The New York state attorney general’s case against the Trump Organization and Trump Foundation looks into whether Trump illegally used charity funds for personal and political gain. If found guilty, he could face criminal charges – and potentially get barred from holding public office in New York. Since a candidate needs to win a majority of a state’s electors to claim that state, losing access to New York’s ballot would be a huge blow.
Maryland and D.C. are suing Trump over allegedly violating the Constitution’s emoluments clauses by profiting from foreign and domestic government officials at his D.C. hotel and other properties. If the case makes it to SCOTUS and justices rule against Trump, he may have to forfeit ownership of his businesses – or get kicked off ballots in those jurisdictions. D.C. has only three electoral votes, but losing Maryland’s 10 votes could still narrow Trump’s paths to victory.
While unlikely, there are a few scenarios where legal troubles could get Trump removed from enough state ballots to doom his re-election hopes. His recent supreme court picks were supposed to guarantee him friendly rulings, but even they may feel compelled to act if presented with clear evidence of unlawful behavior. After all, the court still has to maintain some semblance of impartiality and respect for the rule of law.
Trump’s legal woes highlight why candidates usually divest assets and place them in blind trusts – it helps avoid these kinds of complications. Of course, that level of sacrifice and ethical behavior was too much to expect from someone who’s always gotten his way and played by his own rules. Now his disregard for laws and norms could come back to haunt him in the form of a SCOTUS smackdown and ballot boot. Talk about ‘winning’!
What Happens if Trump Is Blocked From Running Again?
So let’s say the Supreme Court rules that Trump can’t run for president again. What would actually happen next? Well, for starters, Trump would throw an epic temper tantrum on Twitter and claim the election was “rigged.” His devout followers would cry foul, but legally, there’s not much anyone could do. The Supreme Court has the final say.
Trump would remain president until January 20, 2021. But after that, he’d be out of a job with no chance of re-election. The Republican party would have to scramble to find a new candidate for 2024. They may try to draft a Trump-like populist, or they might pivot to a more traditional conservative. Either way, the GOP would be in disarray without their controversial leader.
Democrats, on the other hand, would rejoice at the news. With Trump out of the picture, their path to victory would seem much clearer. They’d focus on promoting their platform and values rather than just running as the “not-Trump” candidate. The 2024 election could be an opportunity for real policy debates again instead of personality clashes.
For the country as a whole, blocking Trump from running again could help lower the temperature of political tensions and divisions. His inflammatory rhetoric and constant drama would fade from the national spotlight. Voters may feel less polarized and anxious without Trump stirring the pot every day. Of course, Trumpism won’t disappear overnight, but no longer having Trump himself as a candidate could be a step toward more stability.
In the end, what happens after Trump depends on what direction candidates and voters choose to take the country. Kicking him off the ballot in 2024 won’t solve all our problems, but it could give America a chance for a fresh start. The chaos and turmoil of the Trump era may finally come to an end, and politics might start to feel normal again. Or at least, the new normal.
Conclusion
So there you have it. Trump’s big gamble on remaking the Supreme Court may end up being his downfall. His appointees aren’t as loyal as he hoped, and states are using his own conservative Court precedents against him. We’ll have to wait and see, but don’t be surprised if the Supreme Court gives Trump the boot – poetic justice for a so-called “winner” who may have finally lost his biggest hand yet. Stay tuned, the plot thickens. And remember to get out and vote, no matter what shenanigans go down. The power is still in our hands.