Trump's "Thank You, I Won't Forget" Greeting to Chief Justice Sparks 'Inappropriateness Controversy'

Supreme Court Ruling Last Year Favored Trump
"Thank You Once Again... I Will Not Forget"
Controversy Over Trump's Handshake With Justices
Ruling on Capitol Riot Charges Expected to Benefit Trump

U.S. President Donald Trump sparked controversy by shaking hands with the Supreme Court justices who came to hear his congressional speech, saying, "Thank you once again. I will not forget." This remark is interpreted as referring to last year's ruling that a former president's official acts during their term should be exempt from criminal prosecution.

According to U.S. MSNBC on the 5th (local time), President Trump shook hands in turn with conservative former Justice Anthony Kennedy, who retired during his first presidential term, and current justices Amy Coney Barrett, Brett Kavanaugh, Elena Kagan, and Chief Justice John Roberts at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. the day before.

When greeting Chief Justice Roberts, who leans conservative, President Trump said, "Thank you once again. I will not forget," shook his hand, lightly tapped his shoulder, and then passed by.

MSNBC commented that they were curious about the underlying meaning behind Trump's behavior, which could appear inappropriate, and speculated that it might be related to past rulings by the Supreme Court.

Due to last year's Supreme Court ruling, President Trump was able to avoid trial related to allegations of attempting to overturn the 2020 presidential election results. The Supreme Court also issued a ruling last year regarding the Capitol riot by Trump's ardent supporters, declaring some prosecutions of protest participants as 'improper prosecution.'

This ruling, which found that the Department of Justice overcharged in relation to obstruction of Congress charges, was expected to work favorably for President Trump's trial on the same charges.

Meanwhile, on the 5th, Chief Justice Roberts dismissed the Trump administration's request to overturn a federal court ruling that prohibited or suspended foreign aid. Conservative Chief Justice Roberts and Justice Barrett joined the three liberal justices in this decision, resulting in a dismissal with a 5-4 vote among the nine justices.