According to a report from OK Magazine on Thursday, January 18, 2024, former President Donald Trump has recently voiced his endorsement for providing “Full Immunity” to presidents. Trump contends that presidents should be granted complete protection from prosecution, even for actions that may “cross the line.”
In his argument, Trump emphasized that without such immunity, the effective functioning of a president becomes nearly impossible. He expressed concern that any mistake, even if well-intentioned, could result in almost certain indictment by the opposing party at the conclusion of their term. Drawing a parallel, Trump likened the necessity of presidential immunity to the protection afforded to police officers, stating it is crucial for the proper execution of their duties.
The former president, known for his distinctive use of all capital letters and exclamation points on social media, recently criticized the legitimacy of election results and claimed complete immunity. Trump awaits a ruling from a federal appeals court on his own claim of presidential immunity.
Trump’s latest statement is relevant to two legal proceedings unrelated to criminal charges. These include a fraud lawsuit filed by Attorney General Letitia James, overseen by Judge Arthur Engoron, and the E. Jean Carroll defamation case, both situated in New York.
In a quote attributed to Trump, he stated, “A president of the United States must have full immunity, without which it would be impossible for him/her to properly function. Any mistake, even if well intended, would be met with almost certain indictment by the opposing party at term end.”
Trump argued that events that “cross the line” should be subject to complete immunity, cautioning against the potential for “years of trauma” in determining what is considered good or bad.
He continued, “There must be certainty. example: you can’t stop police from doing the job of strong & effective crime prevention because you want to guard against the occasional ‘rogue cop’ or ‘bad apple.’ Sometimes you just have to live with ‘great but slightly imperfect.’”
Trump asserted, “All presidents must have complete and total presidential immunity, or the United States will face years of trauma and uncertainty. Hopefully, this will be an easy decision for the Supreme Court to make. God bless the Supreme Court!”
During a hearing in the DC Circuit Court of Appeals, Trump’s attorney argued that a president could order the assassination of a political rival by Seal Team Six and not face prosecution unless impeached and convicted first. This argument, made in the context of presidential immunity, gains significance with the nomination of Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrett by Trump, potentially leading to a Supreme Court hearing in the future.
Despite advocating for absolute presidential immunity, Trump and many of his followers have called for the arrest and prosecution of President Joe Biden over his alleged involvement in his son’s business affairs. The phrase “Lock Him Up” is frequently heard at Trump rallies, reflecting a widespread belief among many in the GOP that the president should be imprisoned for his purported wrongdoing.
