Can Donald Trump Still Run for Election Again?

Since leaving the presidency in January 2021, Donald Trump has regularly hinted at launching another bid for the White House in 2024. This raises questions about whether legal or constitutional barriers exist that could actually prohibit Trump from running for president again. While no law explicitly bans Trump from being a candidate, his unique post-presidency circumstances introduce some ambiguity.

Examining the legal debate around Trump’s future eligibility provides insight into how the Constitution’s vagueness on such an unprecedented situation spurs disagreement among scholars. Ultimately, absent clarifying precedents or amendments, the matter remains disputed rather than definitive.

The Basic Constitutional Requirements

The Constitution lays out only a few direct requirements to be president related to citizenship, residency and minimum age [1]. Donald Trump meets the basics:

• Native-born U.S. citizen over age 35.
• 14-year resident within the United States.

So nothing in those explicit presidential qualifications prevents Trump from running again. But ambiguity around other factors introduces debate.

The Emoluments Clause

Some argue Trump’s overseas business interests run afoul of the Constitution’s Emoluments Clause [2]:

• It prohibits presidents from “accepting gifts and payments by foreign states.”
• Critics say Trump never divested from his businesses and continues profiting through foreign revenue.
• However, the clause lacks enforcement mechanisms and is subject to conflicting interpretations.

So while perhaps ethically questionable, the Emoluments Clause likely poses no actual prohibition on Trump running.

14th Amendment Section 3

Some point to Section 3 of the 14th Amendment as potentially disqualifying Trump [3]:

• It prohibits those “engaged in insurrection” after previously taking an oath to uphold the Constitution from holding future office.
• Critics argue Trump’s role in the January 6th Capitol attack constitutes involvement in an insurrection.

However, this would require a congressional vote confirming Trump met this definition legally. Lacking that vote, any disqualification remains speculative.

Supreme Court Precedents on “Political Questions”

Court precedents suggest challenges to Trump’s eligibility may be deemed nonjusticiable [4]:

• They prohibit judicial interference in “political questions” best settled through electoral or political processes.
• Courts may avoid cases questioning a candidate’s constitutional qualifications for ballots and office.

So courts could decide Trump’s fitness must be determined by voters, not judges.

Impeachment and Disqualification

Finally, some raise the possibility of Congress disqualifying Trump from office through impeachment [5]:

• The Senate can impose disqualification from future officeholding as a penalty for conviction after impeachment.
• With Trump now out of office, this may only be possible after a hypothetical second impeachment.

Like other scenarios, this remains hypothetical absent concrete steps by Congress to pursue it.

What Trump Supporters Argue

Trump allies reject arguments he is constitutionally prohibited from running again:

• No definitive rulings establish Trump violated the Emoluments Clause [6].
• The 14th Amendment provision requires proof of treasonous conduct, a very high bar [7].
• Disqualification under impeachment requires conviction, which never happened [8].

They emphasize eligibility remains fully intact unless affirmatively revoked through established political or judicial processes, which has not occurred.

Uncertain Path Ahead

Given the murkiness, several possibilities exist should Trump run again:

• States allow his name on ballots without challenges.
• States exclude him based on interpreting qualifications themselves.
• Courts rule on eligibility if litigation forces the issue.
• Congress initiates unprecedented impeachment proceedings to disqualify.
• Voters render the issue moot by not electing Trump regardless of his eligibility.

With much uncertainty, the consensus holds few if any clear current barriers prohibit Trump from regaining the presidency through standard electoral processes [9]. But the appearance of testing eligibility concerns by narrowly avoiding disqualifying outcomes risks casting a permanent cloud over Trump’s capacity to hold legitimacy as an elected leader.

Conclusion

Donald Trump retains a legally viable path to the presidency absent new congressional or judicial actions altering his status. While some raise sensible constitutional and ethical objections, the ability to categorically and preemptively exclude Trump from running remains elusive under the law as generally interpreted.

Ultimately, absent Trump’s voluntary withdrawal, the judgment of voters at the ballot box likely remains the sole definitive arbiter of his presidential prospects rather than any technical read of qualifications. Still, the ambiguities illuminated reflect deficiencies in anticipating and guarding against figures potentially stretching notions of rule of law and fitness for office.

Until clarifying precedents or amendments emerge, the Constitution’s gaps and gray areas concerning succession of power disappointingly leave the door open to future opportunistic candidates skirting the spirit of ethics, norms and qualifications for America’s highest office.

References

[1] https://www.theusconstitution.org/litigation/trump-v-mazars-usa-llp/

[2] https://fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/IF11086.pdf

[3] https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2020/01/19/trump-presidency-disqualified-section-3-clause-14-097439

[4] https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/LSB/LSB10559

[5] https://constitutioncenter.org/debate/podcasts/can-trump-be-disqualified-from-office-after-impeachment-acquittal

[6] https://www.nbcnews.com/think/opinion/trump-s-presidency-has-been-one-giant-violation-emoluments-clause-ncna1104976

[7] https://www.politifact.com/article/2021/jan/29/can-donald-trump-be-barred-holding-federal-office-/

[8] https://www.justsecurity.org/77007/can-trump-be-tried-in-the-senate-while-still-president/

[9] https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/interactive/2021/trump-2024-election-constitution/