What happened?
The Supreme Court ruled unanimously Monday that Colorado and other states cannot disqualify former President Donald Trump from federal office under Section 3 of the 14th amendment, which bars candidates who "engaged in insurrection." A 5-4 majority said Congress must pass legislation for the 14th Amendment to be enforced.
Who said what?
States "have no power under the Constitution to enforce Section 3 with respect to federal offices, especially the presidency," the Supreme Court said in an unsigned 9-0 opinion. The five-justice majority went too far, unnecessarily attempting to "insulate all alleged insurrectionists from future challenges to their holding federal office," Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson said in a concurring opinion. Trump said he thinks the "very well-crafted" decision "will go a long way toward bringing our country together."
The commentary
Keeping Trump on the ballots is "defensible," but the "bare" 5-4 majority "had no reason to nullify the insurrection clause" other than as a special "unwarranted gift to Donald Trump" and other Jan. 6 "oathbreakers," Mark Joseph Stern said at Slate. This "clear legal win" for Trump also undermined a "central theme" of his campaign, that the courts are "hopelessly corrupt, conflicted and rigged against him," Jonathan Karl said at ABC News.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
What next?
Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) said he's working on a bill to bar insurrectionists from office. Meanwhile, Axios said, the court's ruling "likely opened the door for Jan. 6 rioters to run for federal office."
-
Giorgio Armani obituary: designer revolutionised the business of fashionIn the Spotlight ‘King Giorgio’ came from humble beginnings to become a titan of the fashion industry and redefine 20th century clothing
-
Kim Jong Un’s triumph: the rise and rise of North Korea’s dictatorIn the Spotlight North Korean leader has strengthened ties with Russia and China, and recently revealed his ‘respected child’ to the world
-
Crossword: September 13, 2025The Week's daily crossword puzzle
-
Calls for both calm and consequences follow Kirk killingTALKING POINTS The suspected assassination of far-right activist Charlie Kirk has some public figures pleading for restraint, while others agitate for violent reprisals
-
Why does Donald Trump keep showing up at major sporting events?Today's Big Question Trump has appeared at the Super Bowl, the Daytona 500 and other events
-
‘Democracy is under threat globally’Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
Former top FBI agents sue, claiming Trump purgeSpeed Read The agents alleged they were targeted by a “campaign of retribution”
-
Why does Trump keep interfering in the NYC mayoral race?Today's Big Question The president has seemingly taken an outsized interest in his hometown elections, but are his efforts to block Zohran Mamdani about political expediency or something deeper?
-
Judge lets Cook stay at Fed while appealing ousterSpeed Read Trump had attempted to fire Cook over allegations of mortgage fraud
-
House posts lewd Epstein note attributed to TrumpSpeed Read The estate of Jeffrey Epstein turned over the infamous 2003 birthday note from President Donald Trump
-
Supreme Court allows 'roving' race-tied ICE raidsSpeed Read The court paused a federal judge's order barring agents from detaining suspected undocumented immigrants in LA based on race
