Biden is playing a very dirty game right now.
In a recent prime-time address, President Biden argued for a change to the Constitution, claiming it should clearly state that no president is above the law. He insisted that a president should not be immune from prosecution for crimes committed while in office. “The president’s power is not unlimited. It’s not absolute. And it shouldn’t be,” Biden stated, calling for an amendment that would prevent a sitting president from being shielded by legal immunity.
Biden’s comments were seen as a response to a significant ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court earlier this year. In a 6-3 decision, the conservative-majority Court ruled that presidents are granted immunity for actions taken within the scope of their official duties, and in many cases, may be shielded from prosecution for other actions as well. This ruling followed efforts by President Trump, after losing the 2020 election, to argue that his actions in trying to remain in power should be protected from legal scrutiny.
Biden, who has expressed concern over the Court’s decision, warned that it could pave the way for a president to act with virtually no checks on their behavior, leaving America’s system of checks and balances in jeopardy. He further used his speech to criticize what he sees as the growing concentration of power and wealth in the hands of a few. He cautioned that this concentration could lead to the rise of an “oligarchy”—a small group of wealthy elites wielding undue influence over the country, which he believes threatens the very fabric of American democracy.
For many conservatives, Biden’s remarks raise alarms about the potential for increased government overreach, especially when it comes to altering the Constitution to undermine checks on presidential power. Critics argue that amending the Constitution in this way could lead to dangerous precedents, further eroding the separation of powers and placing too much influence in the hands of Washington elites. Biden’s call for such a change, they argue, reflects a growing desire to centralize authority in the executive branch, a move that could have long-term consequences for the nation’s governance and freedoms.