Democrats have expressed concern that former President Donald Trump could legally pursue his political opponents if he returns to the White House, following the Supreme Court’s decision in Trump v. U.S., which ruled that a president enjoys absolute immunity for official acts but not for unofficial acts. The court left it up to the courts to determine whether an act is “official” or “unofficial”, granting the president the right to challenge pre-trial decisions.
Democratic Party activist and pundit Van Jones warned that the decision had effectively granted presidents a “license to thug”, implying that they could use their official powers for personal gain without fear of legal consequences. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, who dissented on behalf of the court’s liberals, argued that the ruling essentially creates a law-free zone around the president, giving him immunity from criminal prosecution when using his official powers for personal gain or evil ends.
Some Democrats have embraced this interpretation of presidential immunity, with some even suggesting that President Joe Biden should use the military to eliminate political opponents such as Trump. However, conservatives have dismissed these statements, pointing out the irony of Democrats calling for the use of official power while criticizing Trump’s alleged abuse of it.