President Biden told voters on Monday that they will decide whether Donald Trump should be held accountable for encouraging a mob to attack the Capitol on January 6, 2021. This comes after the Supreme Court ruled that U.S. presidents are immune from prosecution for official acts. This decision likely prevents Trump from facing a criminal trial over his attempts to overturn the 2020 election before the November election.
Biden condemned the court’s decision, arguing that America’s founding principle is the absence of kings, and this ruling practically eliminates any limits on presidential actions.
The Supreme Court’s decision supports Trump’s ongoing efforts to delay multiple criminal cases against him. It establishes a new principle granting U.S. presidents immunity from prosecution for actions taken while in office. Trump faces a criminal case in Georgia regarding his attempts to pressure state officials to overturn Biden’s victory in the state. He also faces a federal prosecution in Washington, D.C. for actions that led his supporters to forcefully breach the Capitol Building, interrupting the official certification of the election results.
“The American people must decide if Donald Trump’s embrace of violence to preserve his power is acceptable,” Biden said, warning against re-electing Trump while knowing he would feel emboldened to act as he pleases whenever he wants.
Trump praised the court decision on his social media platform, TruthSocial, calling it “brilliantly written and wise” and predicting the disappearance of criminal cases against him.
Although the court decision benefits Trump, Biden’s campaign welcomes the opportunity to shift focus away from the aftermath of Biden’s shaky debate performance, which has raised concerns among Democrats about his ability to win re-election. Biden’s remarks return the campaign’s focus to a central theme: the threat Trump poses to democracy.
Biden called the U.S. presidency “the most powerful office in the world” and emphasized that it tests not only your judgment, but also, perhaps even more importantly, your character.
“The American people must decide if Donald Trump’s embrace of violence to preserve his power is acceptable,” Biden said.
