Joe Biden has vehemently criticized the US Supreme Court’s decision to grant former President Donald Trump broad immunity from criminal charges related to his efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election.
Biden described the ruling as a “dangerous precedent” that undermines the fundamental principle of equality before the law.
In a five-minute address from the White House, Biden argued that the 6-3 decision “undermined the rule of law” and did a “terrible disservice to the people of this nation.”
He emphasized that the ruling significantly diminishes the likelihood of Trump facing legal consequences for inciting the deadly January 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol.
Quoting Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, who dissented, Biden echoed her sentiment: “I dissent.”
Biden suggested that the responsibility now falls to voters to determine if Trump, the leading Republican candidate for the upcoming presidential election, should be trusted with the presidency again.
He framed the electoral decision in terms of character and accountability.
“This nation was founded on the principle that there are no kings in America,” Biden stated.
Reflecting on a recent family gathering to discuss his own political future, Biden reinforced his message, emphasizing the nation’s core value of equality before the law.
“Each of us is equal before the law. No one is above the law, not even the president of the United States,” he declared.
Biden warned that the Supreme Court’s decision effectively removes constraints on presidential power, establishing a “dangerous precedent” where the president’s actions are bound only by self-imposed limits.
By highlighting the implications of the ruling, Biden subtly framed the issue within the context of the upcoming election, urging voters to consider whether Trump possesses the character to restrain his behavior if re-elected.
“Now the American people have to do what the court should have been willing to do and will not,” Biden said.
“The American people have to render a judgment about Donald Trump’s behavior.
The American people must decide whether they want to entrust … once again, the presidency to Donald Trump now knowing he’ll be more emboldened to do whatever he pleases, whenever he wants to do it.
“I know I will respect the limits of the presidential powers I have had for three and a half years, but any president, including Donald Trump, will now be free to ignore the law.”
Biden, 81, used the occasion to reaffirm the authority of the presidential office amidst a crisis of confidence in his candidacy.
Following a lackluster debate performance where he struggled to counter Trump’s false claims, Biden faced increasing scrutiny from within his party regarding his viability as a candidate.
In his broader critique, Biden took aim at the Supreme Court’s conservative majority, which was solidified by three justices appointed by Trump.
He condemned the court’s recent decisions that, in his view, have dismantled long-standing legal principles, including voting rights, civil rights, and women’s rights.
“This decision today has continued the court’s attack in recent years on a wide range of long-established legal principles in our nation – from gutting voting rights and civil rights to taking away a woman’s right to choose, to today’s decision that undermines the rule of law of this nation,” he asserted.