President Joe Biden addressed the public Monday for the first time since his widely criticized debate performance last week, focusing on the recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling regarding presidential immunity. The president's brief remarks, lasting only about four minutes, were delivered via teleprompter and drew attention for both their content and Biden's appearance.

Biden appeared to have an orange hue, contrasting with his pallor during the recent debate. The president's physical appearance and short speaking time have reignited discussions about his fitness for office on X and in the media, with debate moderator and CNN host Jake Tapper advising his viewers to trust their own judgment instead of listening to Democrat officials. 

Jake Tapper: "A discernable pattern of Democratic officials seemingly trying to convince you, the public, to not believe what you saw and what you heard with your eyes and with your ears on Thursday night." pic.twitter.com/OVCUlTu6tK

— Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) July 1, 2024

During his address on Monday, Biden asserted that the Supreme Court's decision "fundamentally changed" the principle that no one is above the law in America.

"For all practical purposes, today's decision almost certainly means that there are virtually no limits on what the president can do," he claimed. However, this statement has been challenged as inaccurate, as the ruling specifically limits immunity to official actions within the "outer perimeter" of presidential responsibilities.

The president accused the Supreme Court of continuing its "attack in recent years on a wide range of long-established legal principles in our nation," citing decisions on voting rights, civil rights, and abortion. Biden's criticism of the court's legitimacy comes at a time when his own polling numbers have reportedly declined following his debate performance against former President Donald Trump.

In a move that has raised eyebrows, Biden appeared to use his office to advocate for Trump's election criminal trial to occur before the upcoming presidential election. He quoted Justice Sotomayor's dissenting opinion, which dramatically stated, "In every use of visual power, the president is now a king above law, with fear for our democracy I dissent."

Biden's refusal to take questions from reporters following his remarks has further fueled speculation about his ability to handle unscripted interactions with the press. 

WATCH:

President Biden full statement on U.S. Supreme Court Immunity Ruling: "This is a fundamentally new principle and it's a dangerous precedent. The power of the office will no longer be constrained by the law…The only limits will be self-imposed by the president alone." pic.twitter.com/ltEeIdwQkc

— CSPAN (@cspan) July 2, 2024