President Biden expressed his concerns about the Supreme Court’s ruling on presidential immunity on Monday, referring to it as a “dangerous precedent.”
“This nation was built on the premise that there are no kings in America,” President Biden stated. “With today’s decision, it seems that there are now very few limits on the actions of a president.”
“This sets a completely new standard, and it is a concerning precedent,” President Biden added.
In a 6-3 ruling, the Supreme Court overturned lower court decisions and affirmed that a former president enjoys absolute immunity for their core constitutional powers.
Chief Justice John Roberts, writing on behalf of the six conservative justices, mentioned that former President Trump is entitled to at least presumptive immunity for official acts, but not for unofficial ones. The case was remanded to a lower court to determine which of Trump’s actions related to the January 6 insurrection were part of his official duties and therefore eligible for immunity.
“It is now up to the American people to do what the court should have done but didn’t,” President Biden emphasized. “The public must decide whether Donald Trump’s actions on January 6 disqualify him from holding public office. The citizens must assess whether Trump’s use of violence to maintain power is acceptable.”
President Biden underscored that it is the character of the president that will define the boundaries of the office’s authority, “as the law no longer can.”
“I pledge to uphold the limits of presidential power, just as I have done for the last three and a half years,” President Biden pledged.
Watch more: Supreme Court sends Trump case back to lower court, giving former president limited immunity
