President Joe Biden has condemned the American Supreme Court over its verdict granting former President Donald Trump immunity from criminal prosecution, saying the ruling paved the way for Mr Trump to be a king ignoring the law.
In a 30-second video criticizing the Supreme Court’s Monday ruling on X, Mr Biden said “This nation was founded on the principle that there are no kings in America, but Trump’s Supreme Court has paved the way for him to be one.”
Voice over in the video containing motions graphics featuring U.S. Supreme Court Building, Supreme Court judges, Donald Trump among other, Mr Biden said:
“Nearly 250 years ago, America was founded in defiance of a king under the belief that no one is above the law, not even the president. Until now, the same Trump’s Supreme Court had overturned Roe v Wade, ruled that the president can ignore the law even to commit a crime. Because Donald Trump asked them to. He’s already led an insurrection and threatened to be a dictator on day one. Donald Trump can never hold this office again. I’m Joe Biden and I approve this message.”
Mr Biden’s declaration came three days after Supreme Court justices in an overwhelming 6-3 ruling said Mr Trump has immunity and cannot be prosecuted for official acts during his tenure.
“We conclude that under our constitutional structure of separated powers, the nature of presidential power requires that a former president have some immunity from criminal prosecution for official acts during his tenure in office,” Chief Justice John Roberts wrote in the judgment.
The judgement came weeks after a 12-member jury in the New York hush money trial convicted Mr Trump of all 34 charges.
Mr Trump dismissed the judgement as rigged by a corrupt judge.
“This was a disgrace. This was a rigged trial by a compromised judge who is corrupt,” Mr. Trump said.
Both Mr Biden and Mr Trump are their respective party’s standard-bearer for the presidential election scheduled for November 5.
