However, such an immunity decision has been contrary to a stand long adopted by the liberal justices of the Court who argued, inter alia, that it perpetuates a system that undermines checks and balances that have been at the heart of American democracy for over two centuries. According to Neil Eggleston, former White House counsel under President Obama, this immunity removes a critical guardrail that kept past presidents accountable.

For those who saw in Trump the threat to democratic norms, fears about the “impunity on a presidential scale” abounded once impeachment had fallen short of conviction. Without the availability of criminal liability, concern is that a president would have gotten away with impunity, bypassing the law as well as constitutional checks on presidential power.

In the aftermath of his election victory, Trump‘s transition team is already preparing for his second term discussing who will fill key White House positions, including Chief of Staff. Following the election, rumors circulated about potential Cabinet choices for position-after-another once filling; thus far, Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey has emerged as under consideration for a position as U.S. Attorney General.

Perhaps the most pressing issue for the country as Trump returns to the Oval Office, however, is how this new legal precedent is going to limit his ability to act beyond the strictures of the law. Such a ruling tends to ensure a second term in which Trump feels empowered to pursue those controversial policies knowing that criminal accountability is out of reach.

Setting aside the legal implications, Trump‘s return to the White House will have major political effects, but his win in states like Nevada, which is usually a blue state, could be an indication of the beginning of a realignment trend in the U.S. politics. At least by the updates, the electoral vote count stands already above 300, putting him in the lead with respect to a minimum set target that would make the win very comfortable.

But even with the likely Republican Senate and still-in-the-wings House, return to power for Trump is likely to be accompanied by a larger national debate on his legitimacy, rule of law, and presidential power. Critics say that this decision from the Supreme Court will lead to greater executive power, diminishing the role of Congress and even of the judiciary and public opinion in constraining the acts of the President.

It also fails against some disturbing events that include racial harassment in form of racist text messages to citizens across the country. Such incidents have increased divisions within the electorate, making the second term of President Trump more contentious.