Biden slams Supreme Court presidential immunity ruling

Biden warned that the new ruling sets a "dangerous precedent," because it set up the presidency to no longer be constrained by the law.

Published: July 1, 2024 8:18pm

President Joe Biden on Monday responded to the Supreme Court's ruling on presidential immunity, claiming the ruling meant that not even a president is "above the law."

The Supreme Court ruled in a 6-3 majority on Monday that presidents have presidential immunity for some "official acts," but not unofficial ones. However, the high court did not specifically state what constitutes official versus unofficial acts.

Biden warned that the new ruling sets a "dangerous precedent," because it set up the presidency to no longer be constrained by the law.

"Today's decision almost certainly means that there are virtually no limits on what a president can do. This [is] a fundamentally new principle, and it's a dangerous precedent," Biden said in his remarks at the White House. "The power of the office will no longer be constrained by the law, even including the Supreme Court of the United States. The only limits will be self imposed."

Biden also said it was now up to voters to deicide whether former President Donald Trump is suitable for office after the events of January 6. The Supreme Court ruling is expected to throw a wrench in prosecuting Trump for his alleged efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election.

"The American people will have to do what the court should have been willing to do, but did not. The American people have to render a judgment about Donald Trump's behavior," the president said. "The American people must decide whether Donald Trump's assault on our democracy on January 6 makes him unfit for public office ... The American people must decide if Trump's embrace of violence to preserve his power is acceptable. Perhaps most importantly, American people must decide they want to entrust the [presidency] once again ... to Donald Trump."

Biden said he agrees with Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor in her dissent, where she claimed that "out of fear for the country, I dissent." 

"So should the American people dissent, I dissent. May God bless you all. May God help preserve our democracy. Thank you," Biden concluded. 

Misty Severi is an evening news reporter for Just the News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.

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