'What’s wrong with this guy?' Internet angry as Trump defends presidential immunity, invokes Obama's actions in Middle East at New Hampshire rally

Trump alluded to ex-President Barack Obama's missiles in the Middle East as well as ex-President Harry Truman's atomic bomb attacks
PUBLISHED JAN 23, 2024
President Donald Trump and former president Barack Obama exchange words at the US Capitol on January 20, 2017, in Washington, DC (Rob Carr/AFP via Getty Images)
President Donald Trump and former president Barack Obama exchange words at the US Capitol on January 20, 2017, in Washington, DC (Rob Carr/AFP via Getty Images)

CONCORD, NEW HAMPSHIRE: In a dramatic turn of events at a 2024 campaign rally in New Hampshire, former President Donald Trump launched a scathing defense of his demand for full presidential immunity in the ongoing federal election interference case against him.

Trump's remarks, delivered to a crowd in Rochester, included allusions to former President Barack Obama's actions in the Middle East, President Harry Truman's atomic bomb attacks, and an unexpected reference to the Catholic Church's recent scandals.

Trump asserted that a president must have "guaranteed immunity" to function effectively, citing historical examples like Truman's actions in Japan and Obama's bombings.

The rally took an unexpected turn when Trump seemed to draw a connection between the need for immunity and the Catholic Church's pedophilia scandals, stating, "In the church, you have some people that aren’t so good, right?"

Historical allusions: Truman, Obama, and more

While referencing Truman and Obama, Trump also touched on the topics of "rogue cops" and "bad apples," suggesting that without immunity, presidents might face unjust legal consequences for their actions after leaving office.

"Harry Truman would not have done Hiroshima and Nagasaki, probably ended the war. Probably. I think so," Trump continued. "But he wouldn’t have done it. So many things wouldn’t be done."

"But think of it," he explained. "Barack Obama shot missiles during his term, shot missiles into an area, killed a lot of people, they missed. I mean, does that mean you indict him when he gets out of office?"

"But you have a rogue cop or a bad apple or whatever," Trump added. "And what they do is they make it so that it can’t happen, and therefore everyone else is allowed to commit crimes, murders like at levels that we’ve never seen before."

WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 10:  President-elect Donald Trump (L) listens as U.S. President Barack Oba
President-elect Donald Trump (L) listens as US President Barack Obama speaks during a meeting in the Oval Office on November 10, 2016, in Washington, DC (Win McNamee/Getty Images) 

Trump concluded his defense by highlighting the necessity of presidential immunity, claiming that without it, the opposing party would indict the president immediately upon leaving office, thereby diminishing the power of the presidency.

"No, we’re going to have to do this, immunity for the president," he said to cheers from the crowd. "If you have a president that doesn’t have immunity, he’s never going to be free to do anything because the opposing party will always indict him as soon as he leaves the White House."

"And you can’t let that happen. You can’t," Trump concluded. "You take away all of the power of the presidency, it’ll be a different country."

Social media backlash

Social media erupted with responses from Obama supporters, criticizing Trump's comments.

One user on X (formerly Twitter) wrote, "Kings and dictators are above the law; presidents are not!! That Trump a--hole is NOT a king, and is not a dictator...YET."

"Trump's bat s--- crazy. DC Court of Appeals needs to s--- on his BS Claims soonest. The DC Circuit & SCOTUS should refuse any further BS appeals," another wrote.

"Keeps bringing up situations that happened years ago what’s wrong with this guy," someone else added.

"Perhaps the reason why POTUS Harry Truman or POTUS Barack Obama were never charged with a crime, is because they never broke the law while both in and out of office," a comment read.

"I have NEVER seen a person that can redirect his 100’s of crimes! NEVER! I’ve heard of DEVILS and evil but how did it get in!" another chimed in.



 



 



 



 



 

Trump's ongoing legal challenges

Trump is facing four federal criminal counts related to his alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election.

The former president was indicted by Special Counsel Jack Smith on one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States, one count of conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, one count of obstruction of an attempt to obstruct an official proceeding, and one count of conspiracy against rights in August 2023, per Radar Online.

The Supreme Court is expected to rule on the validity of Trump's presidential immunity defense before the federal election interference trial begins in March 2024. The outcome of this ruling will undoubtedly have far-reaching implications for the 45th president.

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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