In a landmark judgement, the United States (U.S.) Supreme Court, on Monday, ruled that former President Donald Trump has immunity for official actions taken while in office.

The court, for the first time recognised that former presidents have immunity from prosecution for certain actions taken in office, as it threw out a judicial decision rejecting Trump’s bid to shield himself from criminal charges involving his efforts to undo his 2020 election loss.

In a 6-3 ruling, the majority decision dismissed the verdict of the lower court on the criminal charges filed against Trump over his conduct after the 2020 elections.

The court maintained that while former presidents enjoy immunity for actions they take within their constitutional authority, they do not for actions taken in a private capacity.

The ruling marked the first time since the nation’s 18th-century founding that the Supreme Court has declared that former presidents may be shielded from criminal charges in any instance.

Trump, who was quick to welcome the ruling, described it as “BIG WIN FOR OUR CONSTITUTION AND DEMOCRACY. PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN,” the former president wrote in a social media post.