The Young Turks’ creator and progressive journalist Cenk Uygur, who is not legally allowed to run for office, declared his intention to run against incumbent President Joseph Biden.
According to The Daily Wire, Uygur, a Turkish immigrant, strongly thinks that the “natural born citizen” provision of the U.S. Constitution will not prevent him from winning the Democratic Party nomination in 2024.
During an interview with Semafor, Uygur boastfully predicted a “slam dunk” win if the debate over his eligibility ever reached the U.S. Supreme Court. “I’m tired of 25 million Americans having this albatross around their neck,” he passionately remarked, suggesting that the legal challenge was one of the motivations for his decision to run for president.
Uygur made a previous bid for political office in 2020, running for a U.S. House seat left open by former Rep. Katie Hill (D-Calif.). While eligibility for congressional positions differs from the presidency, Uygur’s current campaign has sparked significant debate.
Article II, Section 1, Clause 5 of the Constitution clearly states, “No Person except a natural born Citizen, or a Citizen of the United States, at the time of the Adoption of this Constitution, shall be eligible to the Office of President.”
Uygur’s campaign announcement quickly generated backlash on social media. Talk radio host Larry O’Connor and former congressional candidate Robby Starbuck were among those who raised concerns on social media.
Responding to Uygur’s campaign donation page, Starbuck noted, “You weren’t born here so you aren’t even allowed to run for president yet you’re taking donations under the premise that you are? Sounds like fraud Cenk! Not a smart move.”
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Uygur’s campaign is not the first time the “natural born” requirement for running for president has been discussed. Hollywood actor and former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger recently commented on his own presidential aspirations, which are hampered by his Austrian birth.
During a June interview, Schwarzenegger said “of course” he would run for president if he met the “natural born” requirement.
“I see so clearly how I could win that that election,” he said.
Uygur’s announcement comes just after Robert F. Kennedy Jr. withdrew from the Democrat Party’s nomination race and announced his intention to run as an independent candidate.
“Yes, I’m running against Joe Biden for the Democratic nomination,” Uygur tweeted. “Joe Biden is down 24 points on the economy. He has no ability to make up that kind of ground on the most important issue. We need a new candidate now!”
This news article was partially created with the assistance of artificial intelligence and edited and fact-checked by a human editor.
American Military News Rephrased By: InfoArmed