Biden slams Supreme Court immunity ruling
The "dangerous" ruling has left "virtually no limits on what the president can do"
![President Joe Biden slams Supreme Court](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Urm7YV2ep65qpSkje6y3m7-415-80.jpg)
What happened
President Joe Biden late Monday sharply criticized the Supreme Court's 6-3 ruling granting Donald Trump and other former presidents broad immunity for "official acts during his tenure in office." In a brief White House address, Biden said the court's conservative majority invented a "dangerous" and "fundamentally new principle" that leaves "virtually no limits on what the president can do." Trump asked a New York judge to set aside his 34 state felony convictions in light of the ruling and delay his July 11 sentencing. The court's decision also means Trump won't face federal trial before the election for trying to overturn his 2020 loss.
Who said what
The American people now "have to do what the courts should have been willing to do, but will not," Biden said: Decide if Trump's "assault on our democracy on Jan. 6 makes him unfit for office" and whether they want to "entrust the presidency" to him again, "knowing he'll be more emboldened to do whatever he pleases, whenever he wants to do it."
In an upside for Biden, Politico said, Republicans won't be able to go after him for the Afghanistan withdrawal, border management or any of the other "crimes" they have suggested merit prosecution.
What next?
Trump's motion to dismiss the New York state convictions "might be a long shot" because the hush-money case centers on acts Trump "took as a candidate, not a president," The New York Times said. On the other hand, U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan, charged by the Supreme Court to sort out which aspects of the federal election case are official and unofficial, may hold a "mini-trial" before the election, allowing "prosecutors to detail much of their evidence" against Trump while "lacking only a jury to render a verdict."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
![https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516-320-80.jpg)
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
Have we defeated malaria?
The Explainer Roll-out of low-cost vaccine means a world free from disease that claims 600,000 lives a year 'finally within sight'
By The Week UK Published
-
In 'Twisters,' there are no winds of (climate) change
Talking Point The weather-focused blockbuster kicks up a swirl of controversy over a conspicuous and deliberate omission
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Visiting Maui a year after the Lahaina fire
In Depth The aloha spirit endures
By Catherine Garcia, The Week US Published
-
The attack on Donald Trump
Opinion We've seen this kind of shooter before
By Susan Caskie Published
-
74 things Donald Trump has said about women
Feature The former president has a long history of controversial remarks about the opposite sex
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Israel intercepts Houthi rocket after Yemen strike
Speed Read Just hours after its deadly strike on Houthi rebels, Israel said it shot down a Yemen missile
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
DHS opens review of Trump assassination attempt
Speed Read An independent panel will investigate the Secret Service's handling of the shooting
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Biden ends reelection bid, endorses Harris
Speed Read The sitting president gave his VP full support to replace him atop the Democratic ticket
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Can Kamala Harris beat Trump?
Today's Big Question Some senior Democrats are unsure the vice-president can win in November even as party closes ranks behind her
By The Week UK Published
-
Iran: does Masoud Pezeshkian's election mark a turning point?
Talking Point New president is seen as a progressive but much will depend on how the US reacts
By The Week UK Published
-
Houthis claim drone attack on Tel Aviv
Speed Read The attack on the Israeli city killed one person and injured at least 10
By Arion McNicoll, The Week UK Published