When thepresident does it, that means it is not illegal, Richard NixontoldBritish interviewer David Front years after the disgraced former president resigned from his officeforbugging and spyingonhis political opponents andorchestrating a massive cover-up.DonaldTrump, an obvious practitioner ofthe Richard Nixon SchoolofCriminal Behavior, employed Tricky Dicks lineofargumentinhis demand that all charges be droppedinhis election interference caseonthe basisofpresidential immunity. Related Donald Trumps quest to discredit the free press is his biggest threat to American democracy Without an independent media, democracy simply has no chance. Accordingtoafiling handed down on December 2, 2023, Judge Tanya Chutkan denied Trumps motion. The Judge wrote thatTrumps four years as president didnt give him the divine rightofkingstoevade the criminal accountability that governs his fellow citizens. Dive deeper every day Join our newsletter for thought-provoking commentary that goes beyond the surface of LGBTQ+ issues Subscribe to our Newsletter today Chutkan disagreedwithTrumps claim that the Constitution granted him presidential immunity, saying the Constitutions text, structure, and history dont support that argument. Chutkan added that former Presidents enjoy no special conditionsontheir federal criminal liability.Well, actually, they do. Ina 6-3 decisioninTrumpv. United StatesonMonday, July 1, 2024, the Supreme Court provided broad presidential immunity. The Court declared that a president is immune from prosecution when exercising the core powersofthe presidency but not for unofficial acts.Immunity means a personcannotbe prosecuted. Although the majorityofjustices did not outline precisely what these core powers were, nor what would be considered an unofficial act, there is no higher or stronger exampleofa core power than what is outlinedinArticle II, Section IIofthe U.S. Constitution stating that the President shall be the CommanderinChief. During argumentsonthis caseinfrontofthe Supreme Court, the justices askedTrumps lawyers whether a president could dispatch a SEAL Teamtokill his political enemies.The Courts ruling seemedtohave answered its own questioninthe affirmative. If a President, actinginaccordancewiththeir official capacity, orders the militarytokill other Americans judges, elected officials, reporters, your neighbor, you they can do so, and that President would be immune from accountability under criminal law.This new official-acts immunity now liesaboutlike a loaded weaponforany President that wishestoplace his own interests, his own political survival, or his own financial gain, above the interestsofthe Nation, Justice Sotomayor wroteinher dissent.Composed of three Trump-nominated justices, the Supreme Court has elevated the presidency to a virtual monarchy by making the chief executive officer above the law. Fuel, oxygen, spark: How we resistAccordingtotheMerriam-Webster Dictionary, the term trumpery first appearedinthe English languageinthe mid-15th century. Websters 1913 dictionary defined the word as such: Trumper`y n: 1. Deceit; fraud. 2. Something servingtodeceive by false show or pretense; falsehood; deceit; worthless but showy matter; hence, things worn out andofno value; rubbish. a. 1. Worthless or deceptiveincharacter; nonsensical talk or writing; ornamental objectsofno great value.A democratic republic like the United StatesofAmerica demands an informed and committed publictomaintainatleast a basic standardtowhich our leaders are held. Even within someofthe most tyrannical regimes in history, resistance movements have cometothe foretoworkonbehalfofthe people over autocratic, oligarchical, and kleptocratic assaults.Individuals and groupsofpeople have found waystobecome involved accordingtothe timesinwhich they find themselves and accordingtotheir own particular interests and strengths. Everyone in this nation has a placeinbuilding and maintaining strong and equitable institutions and acting as bulwarks against democratic decline.Let us use fire as an analogytodemocracy when determining the elements and where eachofus fitsinits sustenance. What does it taketocreate and sustain fire? It takes three major elements: fuel (somethingtoburn), oxygen, and a spark or other adequate heat source.Similarly,inour worktocreate and sustain a great, equitable nation, it takes peoplewithdiffering interests and talents (fuel, oxygen, spark),withconnecting values and goals coming togethertomake this democratic republic a reality.During Trumps first term, MSNBC host Stephanie Ruhle required her guests to pay her $2.00 each time they uttered the already overused term unprecedented when referring to the words and actions of the very atypical president. Unfortunately, she was correct,for what was once considered unprecedented has become routinizedtothe pointofnormalization. The shock that once sparked vigilance and counteractionstochallenge the attacksonour social institutions andonsomeofour cherished values can diminish over time by the mere drainonpeoples energies and desireforengagement.Duringour current grieving process over the resultsofthe recent presidential election and as we are recharging our activist batteriesforthe impending fights ahead we can learn from the past and imagine new waysofdefending our rights and our power.Since our democratic institutions are only as strong as we, the people, I know we will overcome the toxic red tide that has washed over us and come up staring toward the sun against a deep blue sky.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.