President Biden expressed his concerns about the Supreme Court’s ruling on presidential immunity, labeling it a “dangerous precedent” during his address on Monday.
“The foundation of this nation is built on the belief that there are no monarchs in America,” President Biden remarked. “With today’s decision, it appears that there are now very few limits on a president’s actions.”
Highlighting the significance of this new principle, President Biden reiterated, “This sets a dangerous precedent.”
In a 6-3 ruling, the Supreme Court overturned previous decisions and declared that a former president holds absolute immunity for their essential constitutional powers.
Chief Justice John Roberts, writing on behalf of the conservative justices, stated that former President Trump may have presumptive immunity for official acts, but not for unofficial ones. The case was remanded to a lower court to determine if Trump’s actions related to the January 6 insurrection fall under official duties and thus warrant immunity.
“The responsibility now falls on the American people to do what the court failed to do,” President Biden emphasized. “They must assess whether Trump’s actions on January 6 render him unfit for the highest public office, and if his resort to violence for power preservation is acceptable.”
President Biden stressed that the moral character of a president will determine the extent of their authority, “since the law no longer provides such boundaries.”
Learn more: Supreme Court sends Trump case back to lower court, giving former president limited immunity