SAVANNAH, Georgia — Vice President Kamala Harris warned voters in Georgia that former President Donald Trump would face no checks or balances and would be a “dictator” on day one due to the Supreme Court’s recent immunity ruling.
“The United States Supreme Court recently just basically told the former president that going forward he will be effectively immune no matter what he does in the White House,” Harris said to voters at a rally in the state’s coastal city of Savannah on Thursday evening.
“I mention the Supreme Court ruling because understand what this means. Just imagine before there was at least the threat of consequence. Understand what it now means and imagine Donald Trump with no guard rails,” said Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee. “Imagine what that means when you consider he has openly vowed that if reelected on day one, he will be a dictator.”
On July 1, the Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that Trump may have some immunity from prosecution related to his actions while in office following the 2020 presidential election. The decision undercut special counsel Jack Smith’s case against Trump.
Chief Justice John Roberts maintained that a former president was entitled to “absolute immunity from criminal prosecution for actions within his conclusive and preclusive constitutional authority” and “presumptive immunity” for all official acts. But it held there is no immunity for “unofficial acts.”
Democrats and some Republicans have criticized Trump’s actions in the lead-up to, and during, the Jan. 6 Capitol riot in which supporters attempted to stop then-Vice President Mike Pence from certifying the election results in the House.
Harris said the Supreme Court decision would free Trump from consequences for actions taken in office, including his reported desire to overhaul the Justice Department.
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Harris visited Georgia with running mate Gov. Tim Walz (D-MN) as part of a two-day bus tour. The two visited local restaurants, spoke at a Savannah high school, and sat down for an interview for the first time since Harris ascended to the top of the Democratic ticket.
The visit to Savannah marked the first time since the 1990s that a presidential nominee has been to the Hostess City.