Donald Trump faces a significant setback in his 2024 presidential ambitions as Colorado and Maine have barred him from running as a presidential candidate. This development raises questions about the upcoming general election and its potential impact.

Trump, widely viewed as the leading Republican contender, has seen his campaign rocked by these two states' decisions, which his team has vehemently criticized as "atrocious" and akin to "stealing an election."

In Maine, the decision to declare Trump ineligible stemmed from his alleged involvement in the Capitol riot. The state's Secretary of State, Democrat Shenna Bellows, issued a comprehensive 34-page ruling invoking Section 3 of the 14th Amendment, which disqualifies individuals involved in "insurrection or rebellion" from holding federal office.

Bellows' decision, while contested by Trump's campaign as politically driven, was defended as legally sound and necessary to uphold Maine's electoral laws.

Meanwhile, Colorado's Supreme Court made a parallel determination, marking the first instance of Section 3 being applied to a presidential candidate. They found "clear and convincing evidence" of Trump's engagement in insurrection.

Despite these rulings, the fate of Trump's candidacy in these states remains in limbo. Both decisions are temporarily on hold, pending appeals, leaving uncertain whether Trump's name will feature on the Republican primary ballots in these states.

The rulings, particularly Maine's, which resulted from a unique constitutional provision, reflect a contentious political landscape. They also highlight the complexities of electoral law and the profound implications of the 14th Amendment in contemporary American politics.

As the situation unfolds, all eyes are on the Supreme Court for a possible nationwide resolution, with significant implications for Trump's political future and the broader American electoral scene.

The lengthy 213-page ruling said Mr Trump's actions in the build-up to 6 January 2021 did constitute insurrection.

His lawyers had argued in Colorado that he should not be disqualified because he did not bear responsibility for the riot.

They also noted that Mr Trump has not been charged with inciting insurrection.

Can Donald Trump still stand in the 2024 election?

Yes. These rulings only apply to Colorado and Maine respectively.

Hours after Maine's ruling, California's elected secretary of state, a Democrat, ignored calls to remove Mr Trump from the state's Republican primary ballot - saying it was a matter for the courts. Michigan's top court this week declined to hear a case seeking to disqualify Mr Trump.

Mr Trump is far ahead of his Republican rivals so can still win his party's nomination without competing in Colorado or Maine.

In both Colorado and Maine, Joe Biden won against Donald Trump in 2020 by a wide margin, and it is unlikely that Mr Trump will need to win the states to enter the White House once more.

What happens next?

It is now likely that the US Supreme Court will intervene to offer a ruling that would apply nationally.

That's because the Colorado Republican Party has appealed the state's ruling to the Supreme Court.

The top US court will decide whether to take up the case in the new year, but it is not clear when.

Mr Trump's name will remain on the ballot in Colorado until the Supreme Court makes a ruling or, in a less likely outcome, decides not to take up the case.

The Maine ruling is also on hold pending a legal appeal in the state's courts. Any decision by the US Supreme Court could supersede this and apply nationally.

The US justices will have to consider the legal arguments which will take time, but they will be under pressure to decide before the Colorado and Maine primaries on 5 March, the so-called Super Tuesday when the greatest number of states hold ballots.

The balance of that court has shifted to more conservative in recent years, thanks in part to three justices who were appointed by Mr Trump when he was president.

Where do legal experts stand on this?

There are two key legal issues to consider.

One is whether Mr Trump's actions in the build-up to the storming of the US Capitol amount to insurrection.

The other is whether the office holders that Section 3 was aimed at barring should include the president.

A lower court in Colorado has already ruled that Mr Trump engaged in insurrection but the law did not apply to the office of the presidency.

The Colorado Supreme Court disagreed, and top legal scholars are divided on whether this law should apply to Mr Trump.

Lawyers for Mr Trump dispute that he engaged in insurrection and argue his remarks to supporters on the day of the 2021 riot were protected by his right to free speech.

What is the political impact?

Mr Trump's campaign said the latest ruling is another example of the justice system being used to persecute him.

But there could be wider implications for the general election.

Dozens of other US states have similar lawsuits trying to bar Mr Trump from running, and the decisions in Colorado and Maine could make it more likely some of them succeed.

If Mr Trump was stopped from running in a state where he and Mr Biden are neck-and-neck, that could be critical in a presidential race that is expected to