US President Joe Biden criticized the Supreme Court ruling on presidential immunity that was seen as a win for his rival, former President Donald Trump, in forceful remarks from the White House.
The US Supreme Court found that Mr Trump cannot be prosecuted for any actions that were within his constitutional powers as president, but can be for private acts, in a landmark ruling recognizing for the first time any form of presidential immunity from prosecution.
“This nation was founded on the principle that there are no kings in America,” Mr Biden said, adding that no one is above the law. With the Supreme Court decision, he said, “That fundamentally changed.”
Mr Biden is running for re-election against Mr Trump and has been sharply critical of his rival’s actions related to the 6 January 2021 raid on the US Capitol by Mr Trump’s supporters, who believed Mr Trump’s false claims that he had won the 2020 election.
President Biden, 81, was making his first set of remarks at the White House since his shaky debate against Mr Trump last week led to calls for him to step aside as the Democratic Party’s standard-bearer for the election.
After he stumbled over his words on the Atlanta debate stage, his remarks and comportment will be scrutinized for signs that he is up to the job of running for re-election and of governing the country for four more years.
