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Former President Donald Trump finds himself in a precarious position as the year comes to a close, with legal challenges that could significantly impact his 2024 presidential campaign. Despite leading the race for the Republican nomination, Trump's multiple legal battles are set to intensify in the New Year.

The most immediate concern revolves around Trump's civil fraud trial, in which closing arguments are scheduled for early January. This trial, brought by New York Attorney General Letitia James, alleges that Trump and his company deceived banks and others by greatly exaggerating his assets and net worth. A ruling by Judge Arthur Engoron has already concluded that Trump's claims of being worth billions may hinder him in an upcoming defamation trial.

The defamation claim, filed by columnist E. Jean Carroll, accuses Trump of defaming her in 2019 after she publicly accused him of raping her. The trial, which has been delayed for years, is now scheduled to begin on January 16. Carroll is seeking $10 million in compensatory damages and additional punitive damages.

Trump's legal problems continue to mount with the start of his first criminal trial in early March. The trial centers on allegations that he plotted to overturn the results of the 2020 election, leading to the violent riot at the U.S. Capitol. Special counsel Jack Smith is urging a federal appeals court to reject Trump's claims of immunity from prosecution.

Furthermore, Trump faces charges in Georgia and New York. The Georgia case accuses him of attempting to subvert the 2020 election result, while the New York charges accuse him of falsifying business records in connection with a hush-money payment to a porn actor. Trump has pleaded not guilty to all charges and labeled them as politically motivated attempts to disrupt his 2024 campaign.

Despite these legal troubles, Trump remains popular among Republican supporters. According to FiveThirtyEight's tracker, Trump boasts an impressive 61 percent support as of Saturday, with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis a distant second at 11.7 percent. Additionally, Trump leads President Joe Biden in a potential 2024 rematch, as per RealClearPolitics' average.

However, Trump could face further obstacles as some states consider removing him from their presidential primary ballots. Maine and Colorado have already taken steps to exclude Trump under constitutional clauses that prohibit individuals who engaged in insurrection from holding office. Similar lawsuits seeking Trump's removal from the 2024 ballot are pending in 14 states, including battleground states such as Arizona, Nevada, and Wisconsin.

The ultimate decision on whether Trump can appear on these state ballots may rest with the U.S. Supreme Court, as the case in Colorado has been stayed until a determination is made about Trump's eligibility under Section 3 of the 14th Amendment.

Newsweek has reached out to a Trump spokesperson for comment but has not received a response at the time of reporting.

As 2024 approaches, Donald Trump's legal challenges loom large, potentially threatening his political ambitions and continued relevance on the national stage.