In a strikingly political speech from the White House, the president said Joe Biden criticized the Supreme Court ruling granting broad presidential immunity, condemned Donald Trump before the January 6 riots and called on voters to reject him.
Biden, making his first remarks from the White House since his failed debate with Trump last week, called the Supreme Court’s decision a “terrible disservice” to the country that would make it extremely unlikely the former president would face trial for his role in the riot before the November election.
“The American people must decide whether Donald Trump’s January 6 assault on our democracy disqualifies him from holding the highest office in the land. The American people must decide whether Trump’s embrace of violence to maintain his power is acceptable,” he said. “Perhaps most importantly, the American people must decide whether they will entrust the … presidency to Donald Trump.”
The comments, in which he read from a teleprompter and did not take questions from reporters, came amid questions about Biden’s ability to campaign and hold office after a debate in which he appeared to lose his way and struggled to respond to Trump.
The Supreme Court voted 6-3 to narrow the case against Trump over his alleged efforts to undermine the 2020 election and remain in power.
Biden said the court’s decision would “fundamentally” change the nature of the presidency, giving presidents unprecedented authority.
“Today’s decision almost certainly means there are virtually no limits to what a president can do,” he said. “It’s a dangerous precedent.”
Biden’s outspoken attack on the Supreme Court’s decision marked a departure from his previous reluctance to comment on developments in special counsel Jack Smith’s investigation.
Just last month, after a jury found the president’s son Hunter guilty on gun-related charges in federal court in Delaware, the White House appeared to acknowledge that it was unwise or inappropriate for the president to get involved.
In court, Trump’s lawyers have already tried to capitalize on the president’s comments and press releases about the White House’s willingness to prosecute Trump.
These reports have prompted motions to dismiss pending federal lawsuits on the grounds of selective prosecution.
Biden’s statement Monday will also undoubtedly play a prominent role in motions arguing that it will be difficult or impossible to empanel a jury to hear the federal election fraud case against Trump.
A White House spokesman did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but the president’s statement appeared to indicate the conclusion that, after the Supreme Court’s ruling on Monday, a pre-election jury trial in Trump’s case is so far off that Biden has little reason to hold back.
Biden, who attended the presidential retreat at Camp David this week, delivered the speech after returning to the White House slightly earlier than planned.
