Former President Donald Trump has notably refrained from signing a traditional loyalty oath as part of his candidacy filing for the Illinois primary, a move that has drawn criticism from opponents and fueled further speculation about his commitment to upholding democratic principles. The oath, which is not legally mandatory but has long been a symbolic gesture by candidates, includes a promise not to advocate the overthrow of the government.
“Signing is optional since federal courts ruled it unconstitutional on free-speech grounds, but Illinois lawmakers have left the oath in state law.”
So the Sun-Times runs an entire story questioning Donald Trump for not participating in an unconstitutional act that remains on the books in Illinois.
Trump’s decision comes at a sensitive time, nearly three years after the January 6 insurrection—an event for which he faces criminal charges related to his alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election results. Notably, President Joe Biden and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, among others, complied with the tradition and signed the pledge.
The Biden campaign has openly condemned Trump’s omission, with communications director Michael Tyler expressing deep concern: “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.” Tyler further critiqued Trump’s past actions and rhetoric.
In response, Trump spokesperson Steven Cheung countered the criticism by affirming Trump’s intention to retake office and adhere to the presidential oath, stating, “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.”
Biden and Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis both signed the oath — as did several lower-tier Trump acolytes in Illinois.
“Why wouldn’t he sign it?” asked former Republican U.S. Rep. Adam Kinzinger, who served on the House Jan. 6th select committee and said he signed the state loyalty oath for each of his six terms in Congress.
“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. 6, 2021, and leading up to it?” Kinzinger said.
The loyalty oath, originating from the McCarthy era in the 1950s, was originally used to target remnants of the communist regime. It requires candidates to declare that they are not affiliated with any organization that promotes the overthrow of the government through force or illegal methods. Despite federal courts ruling the oath unconstitutional on the basis of free speech, it is still part of Illinois law, and many candidates still agree to it.
The decision to skip the oath is in line with Trump’s unconventional start to his presidential campaign. In August, he declared he would not pledge to support the Republican nominee if he lost the presidential primary. He has also been missing from the four GOP debates and intends to skip a debate in Des Moines on Wednesday, just days before the Iowa caucuses on Jan. 15.
Trump’s nomination is facing legal challenges in multiple states, with some claiming that he is disqualified from running for public office under the 14th Amendment due to his alleged role in the insurrection. This recent development adds complexity to his candidacy. The Supreme Court has agreed to take up the case regarding his removal from the Colorado ballot, with arguments scheduled for February 8.
Relevant articles:
– Trump skips Illinois loyalty oath promising not to overthrow government
– Trump did not sign Illinois’ loyalty oath that says he won’t advocate for overthrowing the government
– Donald Trump did not sign Illinois pledge not to overthrow government