'Trump's spineless lackey': Mike Johnson under fire for dismissing Dem 'madness' over SCOTUS immunity ruling

Mike Johnson dismissed concerns over Supreme Court's immunity ruling as 'madness,' ignoring fears of future presidential criminal behavior
House Speaker Mike Johnson dismissed Democrats' concerns over the Supreme Court's immunity ruling that favored Donald Trump (David Dee Delgado, Curtis Means-Pool/Getty Images)
House Speaker Mike Johnson dismissed Democrats' concerns over the Supreme Court's immunity ruling that favored Donald Trump (David Dee Delgado, Curtis Means-Pool/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON, DC: House Speaker Mike Johnson has dismissed the worries of Democrats over the Supreme Court's ruling on presidential immunity, labeling their apprehensions about potential future presidential criminal behavior as "madness."

The Republican remarked in light of Democrats criticizing the latest SCOTUS ruling in former President Donald Trump's favor. On Monday, July 1, the conservative Supreme Court, in a 6-3 majority, ruled that the presidents enjoyed absolute immunity on their constitutional powers and presumptive immunity in other acts while in office.

"Look, there's all sorts of hyperbole tonight…and just this, fantastical, these hypotheticals they've made up [that] future presidents are going to turn into assassins and all the rest," Johnson said in an interview on Fox News after the ruling, as per The Hill.

"It's madness," he added.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 6: Former U.S. President Donald Trump attends his trial for allegedly covering up hush money payments at Manhattan Criminal Court on May 6, 2024 in New York City. Trump was charged with 34 counts of falsifying business records last year, which prosecutors say was an effort to hide a potential sex scandal, both before and after the 2016 presidential election. Trump is the first former U.S. president to face trial on criminal charges. (Photo by Julia Nikhinson-Pool/Getty Images
Supreme Court's immunity ruling favored Donald Trump, who faces multiple indictments over his actions in office (Julia Nikhinson-Pool/Getty Images

Mike Johnson defends Supreme Court's immunity ruling

The Supreme Court's immunity ruling raised concerns among Democrats, who indicated it would encourage future presidents to violate the law because of impunity, including Trump, if he wins the presidential election in November.

Some congressional Democrats mirrored the opinion of three liberal justices who opposed presidential immunity, citing a number of hypothetical crimes or situations a president might be protected from.

Justice Sonia Sotomayor voiced her dissent, stating that the majority ruling would "insulate" a president from "criminal prosecution" and that it would make the commander-in-chief "king above the law."

MADRID, SPAIN - MARCH 04: King Felipe VI of Spain receives Sonia Sotomayor, Associate Justice of The Supreme Court of the United States at Zarzuela Palace on March 04, 2024 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Pablo Cuadra/Getty Images)
Justice Sonia Sotomayor criticized the conservative justices ruling to grant absolute immunity to presidential actions
(Pablo Cuadra/Getty Images)

Speaker Johnson discredited this argument, stating that the conservative majority's ruling "follows common sense" as well as the Constitution.

Further, the Trump ally asserted that a president should be able to make difficult decisions without being worried about the possibility of "rogue prosecutors" going after them in the future. The speaker indicated it would be impossible for a president to operate effectively if the "sword of Damocles" was dangling over his head.

Johnson also criticized the three liberal justices, accusing them of "playing along with the charade" by opposing the ruling.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 14: U.S. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-LA) addresses the media outside of Manhattan Criminal Court on behalf of former President Donald Trump on May 14, 2024 in New York City. Former U.S. President Donald Trump faces 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in the first of his criminal cases to go to trial. (Photo by David Dee Delgado/Getty Images)
Speaker Mike Johnson said presidents should be able to carry out duties without the fear of being prosecuted (David Dee Delgado/Getty Images)

The apex court decision would likely delay Trump's election interference trial, sending it back to a lower court to reassess whether his actions on January 6, 2021, were protected from criminal prosecution.

Internet slams Mike Johnson for dismissing Democrats' concerns over SCOTUS' immunity ruling

Netizens blamed Johnson for being a "spineless" Trump supporter as he shrugged off the Democrats' fears over the impact of the Supreme Court's immunity ruling.

"Show me where in the Constitution it says presidents have immunity. You're a liar and Trump’s spineless lackey," a user wrote.

"Defending this ruling is madness," another remarked.



 



 

"You're okay with the SC's ruling because you are a pathological liar and an election denier, and the Court's ruling is music to your ears for several reasons. None of them are good because you're not a good person nor do you have principles, integrity, or honor," fumed a third user.

"Trump attempted to remain in power by rejecting the results of an election. Full stop. You and others are denying the will of the voters, 'We the People'. The madness is Trump's agenda and his supporters. That's you," read a fourth response.

"You are a despicable piece of human," another blasted Johnson.



 



 



 

"Mr. Johnson, you know it’s not hyperbole. Would Joe Biden be prosecuted if he now had Trump killed & said it was done as an official act to eliminate a clear & present danger to the US? No. & even if he was, Trump has shown US the case would be tied up in courts for 20 years," someone else argued.

"@SpeakerJohnson is a spineless coward!" An individual added.

"If a Democrat president was getting absolute immunity I'm guessing Moses would feel very different. However, because it is GQP they are fine with it," another user said.



 



 



 

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.

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