On Monday, Donald Trump enjoyed a major victory when the US supreme court ruled former presidents were immune from prosecution for “official acts”.
The contentious ruling found Trump was entitled to at least partial immunity from charges he faces of attempting to subvert the result of the 2020 presidential election.
While the six conservative members of the court approved the ruling, the three liberal appointees dissented, warning that a dangerous precedent had been set.
US president Joe Biden quickly condemned the ruling from the White House podium, where he appeared calm and in control – a stark contrast to his appearance during last week’s debate with Trump in Atlanta.
One-bed en suites for students ‘wasteful’, says Minister for Higher Education James Lawless
Independent TDs stand firm in opposition to Mercosur trade deal
Former principal jailed for stealing €100,000 gets one-month teaching ban
Early Edition podcast - 4 stories in 10 minutes: US seizes tanker and house price inflation falls
There’s little doubt that the Supreme court’s controversial ruling has afforded the Biden camp an opportunity to temporarily move away from the questions which followed the president’s disastrous performance during the televised debate.
But the question remains, is Joe Biden mentally and physically able to continue as president for another four years?
And, what are the implications of Monday’s supreme court ruling, not only for Trump, but for the future of democracy in the United States?
Today, on in the News, president or king – what the US immunity ruling means for democracy.
Presented by Sorcha Pollak. Produced by Aideen Finnegan.
