Former President Trump told Fox News Digital in an exclusive interview that the Supreme Court’s unanimous ruling Monday is ‘both unifying and inspirational,’ while stressing the importance of the high court’s pending decision in the issue of presidential immunity.
The Supreme Court sided unanimously with the 2024 GOP frontrunner in his challenge to Colorado’s attempt to kick him off the 2024 primary ballot.
The high court ruled in favor of Trump’s arguments in the case, which will impact the status of efforts in several other states to remove the likely GOP nominee from their respective ballots.
The court considered for the first time the meaning and reach of Article 3 of the 14th Amendment, which bars former officeholders who ‘engaged in insurrection’ from holding public office again. Challenges have been filed to remove Trump from the 2024 ballot in over 30 states.
‘A great win for America. Very, very important!’ Trump told Fox News Digital in an exclusive interview Monday morning.
‘Equally important for our country will be the decision that they will soon make on immunity for a president — without which, the presidency would be relegated to nothing more than a ceremonial position, which is far from what the founders intended,’ Trump told Fox News Digital. ‘No president would be able to properly and effectively function without complete and total immunity.’
He added, ‘Our country would be put at great risk.’
The Supreme Court last week agreed to review whether Trump has immunity from prosecution in special counsel Jack Smith’s election interference case.
The justices moved to fast-track the appeal, and will hear oral arguments beginning April 22, with a ruling on the merits expected by late June.
Trump’s trial stemming from Smith’s investigation has been put on hold pending resolution of the matter.
The decision will also impact Smith’s classified records case against the president. That trial has not yet been scheduled.
As for Monday’s decision, Trump described it as a ‘big win for America.’
‘Today’s decision, especially the fact that it was unanimous, 9-0, is both unifying and inspirational for the people of the United States of America,’ he told Fox News Digital.
In its unanimous ruling, the Supreme Court concluded that ‘states may disqualify persons holding or attempting to hold state office.’
‘But States have no power under the Constitution to enforce Section 3 with respect to federal offices, especially the Presidency,’ the Supreme Court wrote.
Justice Amy Coney Barrett, in a concurring opinion wrote, ‘The Court has settled a politically charged issue in the volatile season of a Presidential election.’
‘Particularly in this circumstance, writings on the Court should turn the national temperature down, not up. For present purposes, our differences are far less important than our unanimity: All nine Justices agree on the outcome of this case. That is the message Americans should take home,’ she said.