Washington is witnessing a historic moment where the concepts of absolute presidential power are being dismantled by stern judicial rulings. Donald Trump, who once confidently sheltered under the shadow of “presidential immunity,” is now facing a harsh reality: in the eyes of the law, he is no longer an untouchable commander-in-chief, but simply “Citizen Trump”.

The 57-page ruling by the federal appeals court is more than a legal document; it is a manifesto for American democracy, asserting that no one—including the person who once held the keys to the White House—is permitted to stand above the law.

During the trial, the judges posed a shocking hypothetical question to test the arguments of Trump’s legal team: “Could a President order SEAL Team 6 to assassinate a political rival and not be subject to criminal prosecution?”. The response from Trump’s lawyer—that a President could only be prosecuted if they were first impeached and convicted by Congress—sent shockwaves through the judiciary and the public.

The court utterly rejected this argument. They wrote that accepting unlimited immunity would transform the President into an “elected autocrat” who could commit any crime to stay in power without ever facing consequences. The court declared: “For the purpose of this criminal case, President Donald Trump has become Citizen Trump, with all of the defenses of any other criminal defendant”.

For years, Trump’s strategy was to build a protective “force field” around himself, claiming that every action he took while in office was an “official act”. However, the judges pointed out that efforts to overturn the 2020 election results—including pressuring state officials and the fake electors scheme—do not fall within the scope of a President’s official duties.

Hunting for non-existent votes or organizing fraudulent slates of electors is not working for the nation; it is a personal act aimed at stealing a lost election. With this ruling, the shield of immunity that Trump painstakingly constructed has officially collapsed, leaving an ordinary defendant exposed in the dock.

Trump’s reaction to this ruling was one of extreme panic. He repeatedly posted messages in all caps on social media, asserting that without “total immunity,” a President would be unable to function properly.

But looking closely at what he is saying: Trump is not denying the actions he is accused of; he is merely arguing that he should be allowed to perform them with impunity. This is an implicit admission of behavior and shows his clear understanding of how precarious his legal standing has become as federal courts consistently say “No” to his demands.

This ruling is not only significant in the courtroom but is also a political “bombshell” for the 2026 midterm elections. Betting markets are seeing the odds of Trump being impeached again skyrocket to 57%.

Trump is well aware of this threat. He has warned allies that if Republicans lose control of the House in 2026, impeachment is a certainty. The court’s ruling provides Democrats with a powerful legal weapon: they can assert that impeachment is not political retaliation, but rather the execution of the court’s spirit to hold a citizen accountable for abusing power.

The core question this case poses to every American citizen is: Do we want an accountable President, or a king who can do whatever he pleases?.

If Trump succeeds in establishing absolute immunity, he will transform the Office of the President into an institution that no one can check. The judges recognized this risk and chose to protect the Constitution rather than protect an individual. However, the court’s ruling is only half the journey. The other half depends on whether the political system has the courage to enforce that accountability.

Donald Trump is in a dilemma: legal walls are closing in from all sides, immunity is being stripped away piece by piece, and the possibility of impeachment grows by the day.

Though Trump may try to delay by filing a flurry of appeals, history will remember this moment as a turning point when “Citizen Trump” had to face the justice he spent a lifetime trying to evade. This battle is not over, but the rules of the game have changed forever: SEAL Team 6 cannot become a President’s assassination tool, and the Constitution is not a carpet for anyone to trample upon.