Washington (AFP) - Donald Trump on Thursday said his claim of "total" presidential immunity against criminal prosecution should extend even if his actions "cross the line."
Trump is running for a White House comeback in November while simultaneously fighting 91 criminal charges in four separate cases that include allegedly seeking to overturn his 2020 election loss and hoarding top secret documents at his golf resorts.
In a social media post sent at about 2:00 am, Trump argued that as president he enjoyed complete immunity from prosecution -- and he urged the Supreme Court to rule in his favor.
"EVEN EVENTS THAT 'CROSS THE LINE' MUST FALL UNDER TOTAL IMMUNITY, OR IT WILL BE YEARS OF TRAUMA TRYING TO DETERMINE GOOD FROM BAD," Trump wrote on his Truth Social website, using his customary all-caps style throughout the statement.
Trump suggested that US presidents need immunity to be able to make hard decisions, and that this need outweighs the danger from presidents who break the rules. The Republican likened the situation to the police, who must keep working despite the "occasional 'rogue cop.'"
"Sometimes," wrote Trump, "You just have to live with 'great but slightly imperfect.'"
He said the Supreme Court, which has tilted to the right since Trump appointed three new justices during his presidency, would have an "easy decision."
A federal appeals court in Washington is currently considering Trump's claim to immunity against prosecution over his role in efforts to change the results of the 2020 election, in which Democrat Joe Biden defeated the incumbent Republican.
If Trump's appeal is denied, as expected by most legal experts, the case will likely go for a final decision before the Supreme Court.
