U.S. President Joe Biden criticized the Supreme Court ruling on presidential immunity that was seen as a win for his election rival, former President Donald Trump, calling it a dangerous precedent that did a disservice to the American people.

Washington

U.S. President Joe Biden has criticized a recent Supreme Court ruling on presidential immunity. He stated that the decision sets a dangerous precedent and undermines the principle that no one is above the law. Biden expressed concerns that the ruling implies that future presidents may have virtually unlimited powers.

The Supreme Court's ruling, decided by a 6-3 vote, finds that former President Donald Trump cannot be prosecuted for actions within his constitutional powers as president. However, the decision stops short of providing absolute immunity for all official acts. The ruling is considered a landmark as it recognizes some form of presidential immunity from prosecution for the first time.

The decision likely means that Trump will not be tried before the upcoming election on charges related to his efforts to reverse his 2020 election loss to Biden. Biden underscored the importance of the public knowing the results of such prosecutions before the election. He criticized the ruling as a disservice to the American people.

This was Biden's first public address from the White House since a challenging debate against Trump, which has led to increased scrutiny over his capability to run for another term and govern for an additional four years.



Biden slams Supreme Court immunity ruling

Good evening. U.S. President Joe Biden on Monday criticized the day's Supreme Court ruling on presidential immunity, which has largely been seen as a win for his election rival, former President Donald Trump. This nation was founded on the principle that there are no kings in America. Each, each of us is equal before the law. In calm, measured remarks from the White House, Biden said the ruling set a, quote, dangerous precedent. For all, for all practical purposes, 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, because 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 by the president alone. The U.S. Supreme Court found on Monday in a 6-3 ruling that Trump cannot be prosecuted for any actions that were within his constitutional powers as president, but can be for private acts. It's a landmark ruling recognizing for the first time any form of presidential immunity from prosecution, but stops short of allowing absolute immunity for all official acts. As Trump's lawyers advocated, the decision means it's unlikely Trump will be tried before the election on charges brought by special counsel Jack Smith over his efforts to undo his 2020 election loss to Joe Biden, one of four criminal cases Trump has faced. On Monday, Biden said the public has a right to know the results of that prosecution before November's election. Now, because of today's decision, that is highly, highly unlikely. It's a terrible disservice to the people of this nation. Biden's remarks were also his first from the White House since his shaky debate against Trump last week, which led to calls for the 81-year-old to withdraw from the race. After stumbling over his words at the Atlanta debate, Biden is being closely scrutinized for signs that he is up to the job of running for reelection and of governing the country for four more years.

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