Will Trump be a 'King above the law'? Here's what the US Supreme Court's immunity ruling means for America

The US Supreme Court’s historic ruling gives Donald Trump some immunity from prosecution. Is this a ‘win for democracy’ or a dangerous move that puts American presidents above the law?

In brief…

• The Supreme Court's majority ruled that all former presidents have partial immunity from criminal prosecution for any “official” act one takes while in office
• Donald Trump has called it "a big win" for democracy amid the criminal trials looming over his head
• The move could give Trump ‘King-like’ powers and he will be able to duck prosecution, The News Agents say.

On the eve of American Independence Day, 250 years after the US got rid of England’s King George, has the Supreme Court has decided it might want a monarch in power after all?

It has essentially granted Donald Trump immunity from almost all kinds of criminal prosecution for the things he has done while in office.

And with the former president vying for a spot in the White House once again, what kind of powers could it grant him should he win the next election?

And what does this mean for American democracy?

Has the US Supreme court given Donald Trump King-like' powers?

Here’s what The News Agents think. 

Jon Sopel says: “Donald Trump is being given enormous latitude. It is inconceivable to me now to see how there can be a prosecution for the activities on January 6 [2020]”.

That was the day Trump’s supporters stormed the Capitol to try and overturn his election defeat to Joe Biden. Trump has been accused of inciting the insurrection.

It will now be much harder to convict Trump on election interference charges, and that case will now certainly be tried after the election.

Emily Maitlis says: “Trump has called it ‘a big win’. Three syllables which spell out exactly how this is being seen.

“This is a win for the former president which means he will probably not face trial and he will probably find it easier to go on to win the next election if he convinces people that he is not to blame for what happened last time around.”

Lewis Goodall writes on X: “In making the presidency more powerful and less accountable, the decision makes the character, self-restraint and commitment to liberal democratic principles and institutions of the president of the day all the more important. “

But there is a slight chance the ruling could also play into the Democrats’ hands as the election approaches.

Goodall adds: “It’s possible the Democrats can use the court decision to their advantage (a la Roe) in that they can terrify their base and swing voters that a Trump restoration would be unchecked and willing to wield massive executive power.”

The problem is, the man at the wheel performed poorly in the first TV debate of the campaign, and many Democrats have even called for Joe Biden to be replaced as soon as possible.

What did the Supreme Court judgment actually say?

The Supreme Court ruled that all former presidents have partial immunity from criminal prosecution for any “official” act one takes while in office.

Presidents will not be offered immunity for unofficial - or private - acts. This means his case relating to the attempt to overturn the 2020 election will be sent back to lower courts to determine whether the actions he took were official or unofficial.

It also means any prosecution against Trump that results from this decision will now be delayed far beyond November’s election.

The Supreme Court is made up of six conservative and three liberal justices.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, all six Conservatives backed the immunity ruling. Trump hand-picked three of those justices in his first term as president.

The three liberal justices were not happy, with one calling Trump a “King above the law”.

---