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42 

TRUMP v. UNITED STATES 

Opinion of the Court 

of powers and for the future of our Republic.  Youngstown, 
343 U. S., at 634 (Jackson, J., concurring).  Our perspective
must be more farsighted, for “[t]he peculiar circumstances
of the moment may render a measure more or less wise, but 
cannot render it more or less constitutional.”  Chief Justice 
John Marshall, A Friend of the Constitution No. V, Alexan-
dria  Gazette,  July  5,  1819,  in  John  Marshall’s  Defense  of 
McCulloch v. Maryland 190–191 (G. Gunther ed. 1969). 

Our first President had such a perspective.  In his Fare-
well  Address,  George  Washington  reminded  the  Nation 
that “a Government of as much vigour as is consistent with
the perfect security of Liberty is indispensable.”  35 Writ-
ings of George Washington 226 (J. Fitzpatrick ed. 1940).  A 
government “too feeble to withstand the enterprises of fac-
tion,” he warned, could lead to the “frightful despotism” of
“alternate  domination  of  one  faction  over  another,  sharp-
ened  by  the  spirit  of  revenge.”    Id.,  at  226–227.  And  the 
way  to  avoid  that  cycle,  he  explained,  was  to  ensure  that 
government powers remained “properly distributed and ad-
justed.”  Id., at 226. 

It is these enduring principles that guide our decision in 
this case.  The President enjoys no immunity for his unoffi-
cial acts, and not everything the President does is official. 
The President is not above the law.  But Congress may not 
criminalize the President’s conduct in carrying out the re-
sponsibilities of the Executive Branch under the Constitu-
tion.  And the system of separated powers designed by the
Framers has always demanded an energetic, independent 
Executive.  The President therefore may not be prosecuted 
for exercising his core constitutional powers, and he is enti-
tled, at a minimum, to a presumptive immunity from pros-
ecution  for  all  his  official  acts.    That  immunity  applies
equally to all occupants of the Oval Office, regardless of pol-
itics, policy, or party.

The judgment of the Court of Appeals for the D. C. Circuit
is vacated, and the case is remanded for further proceedings