In historic Trump hearing, Supreme Court majority suggests presidents may have some criminal immunity
Not all of the justices agreed, however -- and a decision is expected by June.
The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments Thursday on whether former President Donald Trump can be criminally prosecuted over his efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss.
The justices grappled with the monumental question of if -- and if so, to what extent -- former presidents enjoy immunity for conduct alleged to involve official acts during their time in office.
Trump claims "absolute" protection for what he calls official acts, though he denies all wrongdoing. The high court divided over this, but most of the conservative-leaning justices in the majority seemed open to some version of it while still excluding a president's "private" conduct.
The high court's ruling will determine if Trump stands trial before the November election on four charges brought by special counsel Jack Smith, including conspiracy to defraud the United States. A decision is expected by June.
Latest headlines:
See court sketches from inside court
The Supreme Court notably does not allow cameras inside its courtroom during arguments, meaning that sketch artists provide the only visual representation of some of the country's most defining legal moments.
Here are three sketches from the Trump arguments on Thursday -- of the justices and the attorneys for each side.
'Quite amazing. The justices were on their game,' Trump says
Trump reacted to the arguments before the justices later on Thursday afternoon after he left court for the day amid his hush money trial in New York, to which he has pleaded not guilty.
“I think it was made clear, I hope it was made clear, that a president has to have immunity," he said, repeating a familiar talking point. "You don't have a president -- or at most you could say it would be a ceremonial president. That's not what the founders had in mind.”
He continued, ”We want presidents that can get things done and bring people together. So I heard the meeting was quite amazing. Quite amazing. The justices were on their game.”
Trump did not answer shouted questions from the press.
-ABC News' Kelsey Walsh, Mike Pappano and Jianna Cousin
5 takeaways: Hypotheticals dominate, conservatives and liberals raise different worries and more
As various justices themselves acknowledged, they could potentially reshape the contours of presidential power when they rule on Trump's case.
Click here to read five takeaways from the historic arguments.
10 key moments from the arguments
The oral arguments, stretching nearly three hours and with demonstrators gathered outside, included several notable and important exchanges.
Here are 10 of the key moments -- including discussion of potential self-pardons, Franklin D. Roosevelt and more.
Read more here.
Trump, on trial in New York, contends president 'has to have immunity'
As Trump headed into court on Thursday morning for his ongoing trial in New York (he has pleaded not guilty), he continued to weigh in on the presidential immunity case.
"I think that the Supreme Court has a very important argument before it today," he told reporters as he entered the hallway inside a Manhattan courtroom for his hush money trial. "I would have loved to have been there but this judge would not allow me to be there."
Trump argued that the president "has to have immunity," repeating a claim that federal prosecutors and some judges have so far said would upend the rule of law.
"This has to do with a president in the future for 100 years from now," he said. "If you don't have immunity, you're not going to do anything. You're going to become a ceremonial president. It's just going to be doing nothing, you're not going to take any of the risks, both good and bad."
-ABC News' Kelsey Walsh and Michael Pappano
