Former President Donald Trump is making the rather bold assertion the Founders would approve of his claim to “full immunity.”
In a video posted on Truth Social, Trump insisted presidents would only serve as “ceremonial” position if they were not given immunity.
“This is not what the Founder’s had in mind at all,” he continued. “The founders wanted the president to have immunity so the president can feel free to make decisions, hopefully they’ll be great decisions… If you don’t have a strong form of immunity you’re not going to have anything. You’re not going to have a president that can function.”
Trump interestingly claimed everyone “assumes” presidents have immunity.
Watch the video below:
Trump's curious claim about our founders: “The founders wanted the president to have immunity so the president can feel free to make decisions…If you don’t have a strong form of immunity you’re not going to have anything. You’re not going to have a president that can function.” pic.twitter.com/eiLtjLhpBv
— Republican Accountability (@AccountableGOP) April 11, 2024
His comment comes as he has been pushing the dubious legal theory that presidents have broad immunity for actions taken while they are in office.
In January, Trump took to Truth Social to argue presidents should an incredible level of immunity, writing, “A PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES MUST HAVE FULL IMMUNITY, WITHOUT WHICH IT WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE FOR HIM/HER TO PROPERLY FUNCTION. ANY MISTAKE, EVEN IF WELL INTENDED, WOULD BE MET WITH ALMOST CERTAIN INDICTMENT BY THE OPPOSING PARTY AT TERM END.”
“EVEN EVENTS THAT ‘CROSS THE LINE’ MUST FALL UNDER TOTAL IMMUNITY, OR IT WILL BE YEARS OF TRAUMA TRYING TO DETERMINE GOOD FROM BAD. HERE MUST BE CERTAINTY,” he insisted.
Finally, Trump claimed, “ALL PRESIDENTS MUST HAVE COMPLETE [and] TOTAL PRESIDENTIAL IMMUNITY, OR THE AUTHORITY [and] DECISIVENESS OF A PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES WILL BE STRIPPED [and] GONE FOREVER. HOPEFULLY THIS WILL BE AN EASY DECISION. GOD BLESS THE SUPREME COURT.”
Trump overnight, arguing that presidents should be above the law entirely: "ALL PRESIDENTS MUST HAVE COMPLETE & TOTAL PRESIDENTIAL IMMUNITY, OR THE AUTHORITY" and "EVEN EVENTS THAT “CROSS THE LINE” MUST FALL UNDER TOTAL IMMUNITY." pic.twitter.com/z1dqo3lRbM
— Josh Wingrove (@josh_wingrove) January 18, 2024
It is true the Founders were concerned about making sure presidents were not beholden to the legislature, or some other body, and were able to make quick and important decisions.
But they also strongly believed in accountability and ensuring that virtuous candidates were elected to the office.
The reason we have one president chosen by the voters as opposed to multiple presidents or some executive counsel, or one one chosen by lawmakers, is in part to ensure presidents are held accountable for their actions in office.
They did not want to diffuse responsibility. They want it to be clear who was responsible for an action and who deserved the praise or the blame.
So this notion that the Founders wanted a president who would be able to do whatever they wanted and get away with it is simply not historical.
