How Partisan Media Covered the Supreme Court’s Trump Immunity Decision

The Supreme Court’s decision to grant former President Donald J. Trump significant immunity from prosecution dominated headlines on Monday in both liberal and conservative media outlets. However, the reactions to the ruling differed significantly between the two sides.

Liberal outlets criticized the decision, viewing it as a biased move from a conservative Supreme Court. They argued that the ruling would complicate the criminal case against Mr. Trump, accusing him of trying to overturn the last election and raising the stakes for November’s general election.

On the other hand, many conservative outlets offered a more positive assessment of the decision, celebrating the 6-3 ruling and admonishing Democrats who opposed it. The decision left it to lower courts to determine which aspects of Mr. Trump’s conduct were protected from prosecution.

Here’s how a selection of outlets covered the news:

FROM THE LEFT

MeidasTouch

The court’s ruling established that Mr. Trump was immune from prosecution for “official” acts during his presidency but not for “unofficial” conduct. The majority opinion, written by Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr., emphasized the need for such broad immunity to maintain an “energetic, independent executive.” The ruling instructed a district court to determine what constituted official and unofficial conduct, potentially delaying any trial until after the upcoming election.

Ben Meiselas, a co-founder of MeidasTouch, expressed concern over the ruling, stating that Justice Sonia Sotomayor’s dissent was particularly alarming. Ron Filipkowski, the site’s editor in chief, criticized the decision for weakening checks on executive power and emphasized the increased importance of the upcoming election.

Salon, a liberal news and opinion site, also highlighted Justice Sotomayor’s dissent, with the justice stating that the ruling undermined the principle that no one is above the law. Griffin Eckstein, a fellow for the publication, noted that the court’s decision alone was a significant advantage for the Trump campaign.

In a separate article, Tatyana Tandanpolie interviewed legal experts critical of the ruling, including one who suggested that the court’s decision may have far-reaching consequences, potentially normalizing egregious behavior.

FROM THE RIGHT

The Gateway Pundit

The Gateway Pundit, known for spreading misinformation and conspiracy theories, applauded the ruling as a victory for Mr. Trump and American democracy. The site’s founder, Jim Hoft, described the decision as a reinforcement of the constitutional framework established by the Founding Fathers.

Cristina Laila, an associate editor at Gateway Pundit, highlighted what she deemed an exaggerated response from the Biden administration, characterizing it as desperate.

FROM THE RIGHT

Townhall

Townhall, a conservative news and opinion website, derided liberal reactions to the ruling, labeling them as exaggerated and irrational.

One article from Townhall mocked liberal responses to the Trump immunity decision, with the headline “Liberal America’s Reaction to the Trump Immunity Decision Was Unhinged As Usual.” The piece criticized the perceived hysteria from liberals and referenced Justice Sotomayor’s dissent.

Another article by Katie Pavlich highlighted a comment from Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who criticized the ruling as an assault on democracy. Pavlich characterized those opposing the decision as enablers of government overreach.