Donald Trump has notably refused to sign a pledge against government overthrow, a decision that’s raising eyebrows and prompting speculation about his motives as a GOP frontrunner in the presidential race.
What’s Behind It?
In a submission of election paperwork in Illinois, former President Donald Trump skipped the “loyalty pledge,” a Cold War-era statement where candidates promise not to “advocate the overthrow of the government.”
Although the oath became non-mandatory in the 1970s, it has remained a customary part of the election process in the state.
A Shadow Over 2024 Elections
Ahead of the 2024 elections, this act coincided with the third anniversary of the Capitol siege by Trump supporters, which was an effort to prevent Congress from confirming Joe Biden’s presidential win.
Legal Risks Mount for Trump
Trump’s attempts to challenge the 2020 election results now pose legal risks for him, with several special-counsel-led trials underway. Additionally, this controversy has spurred efforts in various states, including Illinois, to seek his removal from primary ballots.
Unconventional Move
In his 2016 and 2020 presidential campaigns, Donald Trump, the figurehead of the MAGA movement, adhered to the tradition of signing a loyalty oath and submitting it to the election authorities in Illinois.
This time, however, Trump has chosen not to sign this document.
Presidential Oath on the Bible
Michael Tyler, a spokesperson for the Biden campaign, made a poignant statement on Jan 6, emphasizing the longstanding tradition of U.S. presidents taking an oath on the Bible to uphold the Constitution.
“For the entirety of our nation’s history, presidents have put their hand on the Bible and sworn to protect and uphold the Constitution of the United States – and Donald Trump can’t bring himself to sign a piece of paper saying he won’t attempt a coup to overthrow our government. We know he’s deadly serious because three years ago today, he tried and failed to do exactly that,” he stated.
Trump’s “Losers” Remark
In a pointed critique from the Biden campaign, Tyler condemned Trump’s attitude towards American servicemen and women who died upholding constitutional ideals, whom Trump allegedly called “suckers and losers.”
He added, “He can’t fathom putting anything – our country, our principles, or the wellbeing and safety of the American people – above his own quest for retribution and power.”
Trump Campaign Responds
Responding to the Biden campaign’s criticisms on Jan 6, the Trump campaign conveyed a strong message through spokesman Steven Cheung. He stated,
“President Trump will once again take the oath of office on January 20th, 2025, and will swear ‘to faithfully execute the office of president of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.”
A Legacy from the 1950s
Since its introduction in the 1950s, a period marked by Senator Joe McCarthy’s intense crusade against alleged communist activities in the United States, Illinois lawmakers have repeatedly tried to abolish the “loyalty pledge.”
Cold War-Era Oaths
Other states adopted similar oaths during the Cold War, but federal courts have predominantly ruled them unconstitutional. Despite this, Illinois’ version of the oath, being optional and straightforward to sign, has evolved into a customary practice for presidential candidates.
Rejection Raises Alarm
The fact that Trump has seemingly chosen not to sign the oath — a pledge that includes a commitment not to overthrow the government if he secures a second term — is causing alarm.
The oath encompasses two key declarations: firstly, candidates must state they have no communist affiliations or connections. Secondly, and perhaps more pertinent to contemporary circumstances, they must vow that they do not, in any manner, advocate or support the overthrow of the U.S. government or state government or any illegal changes to their forms of government by force or other unlawful methods.
Why No Oath?
Trump’s decision not to sign the oath raised questions among many, including his critics. Former Republican U.S. Representative Adam Kinzinger, who served on the January 6th select committee, expressed his bafflement, questioning, Why wouldn’t he sign it?”
“Has he been advised maybe not to sign it because maybe there’s some legal exposures…given that oath, if he signed it, would be a violation of everything he actually did on Jan. 6th, 2021, and leading up to it?”
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