Former President Donald Trump sharply criticized the decision by the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals to deny him immunity for actions that he took while in office. The former president took to social media to argue against what he called a “nation-destroying decision.”
The former president wrote on Truth Social that the court ruling “cannot be allowed to stand.”
A President of the United States must have Full Immunity in order to properly function and do what has to be done for the good of our Country. A Nation-destroying ruling like this cannot be allowed to stand. If not overturned, as it should be, this decision would terribly injure…
— Donald J. Trump Posts From His Truth Social (@TrumpDailyPosts) February 6, 2024
The former president argued that immunity is needed so that presidents can “properly function and do what has to be done for the good of our Country.”
He said that “this decision would terribly injure not only the Presidency, but the Life, Breath and Success of our Country. A President will be afraid to act for fear of the opposite Party’s Vicious Retribution after leaving Office.”
“I know from personal experience because I am going through it right now,” Trump added. “It will become a Political Weapon used for Election Interference. Even our Elections will be corrupted and under siege. So bad, and so dangerous for our Nation.”
“SAVE PRESIDENTIAL IMMUNITY!” he concluded.
Earlier in the week, the circuit court unanimously decided that Trump does not have immunity while out of office.
“For the purpose of this criminal case, former President Trump has become citizen Trump, with all of the defenses of any other criminal defendant,” read the ruling. “But any executive immunity that may have protected him while he served as President no longer protects him against this prosecution.”
The Trump campaign announced that it would appeal the decision, which will likely make it to the Supreme Court.
This is not the only case that the high court will likely decide in the coming weeks. The Supreme Court is also considering the efforts of Colorado and Maine to remove the former president from their primary ballots utilizing a clause from the 14th Amendment.
The Colorado Supreme Court and the Maine secretary of state each argued that the former president had engaged in “insurrection.” A part of the 14th Amendment bars those who engage in such acts from taking federal office.
