In a recent interview with Fox News host Sean Hannity, former President Donald Trump utilized the platform to strongly advocate for immunity for accused crimes during his tenure in office, directing his message specifically towards the Supreme Court, which he significantly influenced by appointing three justices – Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrett.
During the interview on Fox News Channel’s Hannity, when asked about his closing message to the people of New Hampshire, Trump shifted the focus towards the Supreme Court and emphasized the importance of immunity for the president. He expressed his belief that the court would allow the people to vote again, referencing a case, possibly Colorado, and then highlighted the crucial matter of presidential immunity.
Trump argued that immunity for the president is essential, irrespective of his personal situation, as it allows the president to act without fear of prosecution once out of office. He contended that without immunity, a president might be hesitant to take necessary actions, fearing legal repercussions post-presidency. Trump illustrated his point by referencing past incidents involving other presidents, suggesting that they may have meant well but could face indictment without immunity.
He brought up examples, such as President Obama’s missile strike that hit unintended targets and President Biden’s decisions on various policies, particularly criticizing his actions in Afghanistan. Trump’s argument implied that without immunity, presidents could be vulnerable to legal consequences for actions taken in the course of their duties.
The mention of Trump’s attorney’s assertion that a president could order a military operation against a political rival without facing prosecution unless impeached and convicted further underscored Trump’s push for broad presidential immunity. This stance aligns with his broader narrative that without such protection, presidents might be constrained in their decision-making due to fear of legal consequences after leaving office.
SEAN HANNITY What is your closing message to the people of New Hampshire?
DONALD TRUMP It’s very simple. It’s Make America great again. But I think very important before we do this, because you were talking about the Supreme Court. They have two votes that are very important coming up. One is, as we discussed, we call it Colorado or whatever. But, you know, I really believe they’re going to leave the people to vote again. You’re the leading candidate in both parties. You’re leading the Democrats by many, many points.
DONALD TRUMP I mean, it’s hard to imagine they would do and most states have already approved it. As you know, very few states have done that. This is Colorado and a couple of others at this moment. But they have another important and that’s immunity for the president, the president of the United States. And I’m not talking about myself.
DONALD TRUMP I’m talking about any president has to have immunity, because if you take immunity away from the president, so important you will have you have a president that’s not going to be able to do anything, because when he leaves office, the opposing party president, if it’s the opposing party, will indict the president for doing something that should have been good, like Obama dropped missiles and they ended up hitting a kindergarten or a school or the apartment house. A lot of people were killed.
DONALD TRUMP Well, if that’s the case, he’s going to end up being indicted when he leaves office. He meant well. The missile went in the wrong direction. And other things. Look at Biden. What would happen to Biden? He’s killed our country with his policies. The border is a disaster. Everything he does is a disaster.
DONALD TRUMP What he did in Afghanistan is the most embarrassing moment in the history of our country, giving them $85 billion worth of equipment, killing our soldiers, wounding horribly our soldiers and leaving people behind. Well, when he leaves office, if he doesn’t have immunity now, I think it’s horrible what he did, but he probably I don’t know, it’s hard to believe, but he probably meant well. It’s hard to believe that he meant well. But the man is incompetent. But you have to leave. You have to leave immunity with the president.
DONALD TRUMP If a president is afraid to act because they’re worried about being indicted when they leave office, a president of the United States has to have immunity, and the Supreme Court’s going to be ruling on that. If they don’t have immunity, no president is going to act. You’re going to have guys that just sit in office and are afraid to do anything.
