Let’s talk about a powerful statement Richard Nixon made years after he resigned from office: “When the president does it, that means it is not illegal.” Nixon, a man whose presidency was marred by scandal and cover-ups, claimed that the president couldn’t be held accountable like everyone else. Fast forward to today, and we find Donald Trump echoing Nixon’s philosophy, trying to use presidential immunity as a shield in his election interference case.
But here’s the catch: as Judge Tanya Chutkan pointed out in December 2023, Trump doesn’t have some “divine right” to escape accountability. She made it clear that being president doesn’t give anyone special privileges to break the law.
So, what’s the real story here? According to the Constitution, the idea of a president being immune from criminal charges isn’t exactly supported. However, this got complicated when the Supreme Court ruled in 2024 that presidents do have immunity while exercising “core powers” of their office. Sounds like a big deal, right?
In fact, this ruling has some serious implications. Imagine a president who could, under the guise of official duties, take extreme actions without fear of prosecution. The Supreme Court’s decision left a lot of questions unanswered—what exactly qualifies as a “core power”? Could a president order harmful actions against Americans, and still walk free? If the answer is yes, we’re facing some major challenges in protecting our democratic values.
Justice Sotomayor, in her dissent, made an important point: this ruling could allow future presidents to use their position to put their own interests ahead of the country. It’s a dangerous power, one that makes the office of the president appear almost untouchable.
But we can’t forget what makes democracy work: us, the people. The health of a democracy relies on an informed, active public who hold leaders accountable. It’s easy to feel like the system is rigged, like there’s nothing we can do to fight back against corruption. But history teaches us that resistance is always possible. It has always been the spark that keeps a society from sliding into tyranny.
Let’s think of democracy like a fire. To keep it burning, we need three things: fuel, oxygen, and a spark. The people who fight for fairness, equity, and justice are the fuel. The energy, ideas, and passions we bring are the oxygen. And the spark? That’s the passion to act, to challenge, and to resist.
During Trump’s first term, the word “unprecedented” was thrown around a lot. And while some of those actions might have been shocking at first, many of us started to see them as just another part of the routine. But here’s the thing: what becomes routine can’t be allowed to feel normal. If we stop reacting, stop fighting for what’s right, we risk letting our democracy slip away without a fight.
So, what do we do now? We recharge, we rethink, and we remember that we, the people, are the lifeblood of democracy. Together, we can rise above the toxic forces that threaten us and keep pushing forward toward a brighter future. The fight isn’t over. In fact, it’s just getting started.
Let’s stay vigilant, stay active, and keep the flame of democracy burning bright.
