President Joe Biden has openly criticized the Supreme Court following its ruling that former President Donald Trump and other former presidents are partially immune from criminal prosecution.
Speaking at the White House, President Biden emphasized that the United States was founded on the principle that there are no kings and that no one is above the law. He warned that the Court’s decision fundamentally changes this principle.
The Supreme Court’s decision relates to the events of January 6, 2021, when supporters of then-President Trump stormed the Capitol building in an attempt to overturn Biden’s election victory. The Court ruled that Trump’s actions and social media activity on that day were official acts, granting him immunity from prosecution for those actions. However, he can still be held criminally responsible for unofficial acts conducted in a private capacity. A lower court judge will determine which aspects of his behavior are relevant to the trial, which is now on hold.
In response to the ruling, Trump celebrated on his Truth Social platform, calling it a “big win for our Constitution and democracy.”
At the White House, President Biden reiterated his stance: “This nation was founded on the principle that there are no kings in America. Each of us is equal before the law. No one is above the law, not even the President of the United States. With today’s Supreme Court decision on presidential immunity, that fundamentally changed for all practical purposes. Today’s decision almost certainly means that there are virtually no limits on what a president can do.”
The Supreme Court’s 6-3 ruling, split along ideological lines, is a landmark decision with significant implications for future presidents. For Trump, it likely means he will not face any more trials during the ongoing election campaign, although the legal cases against him have not completely disappeared.
