Was Donald Trump, as president, a king? The US supreme court thinks so | Moira Donegan

Was Donald Trump, as president, a king? The US supreme court thinks so | Moira Donegan

In ruling that Trump enjoys ‘absolute immunity’ for ‘official acts’ as president, the court has set a disturbing precedent

US supreme court rules Trump has ‘absolute immunity’ for official acts

Is the president a king? The US supreme court thinks so. On Monday, in its very last ruling of the term, the chief justice, John Roberts, writing for the court’s six conservatives, held in Trump v United States that Donald Trump has “absolute immunity” from criminal prosecution for all acts that can be interpreted as part of the official course of his “core” duties, and “presumptive” immunity for all other official acts.

The move dramatically extends executive authority, insulates past and future presidents from prosecution for illegal or even treasonous actions they carry out while in office and renders the former president largely criminally immune for his role in the January 6 insurrection.

Moira Donegan is a Guardian US columnist

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