A BBC presenter has been blasted on social media after appearing to call for Donald Trump's murder following his Supreme Court ruling in the US earlier today.
David Aaronovitch, who presents BBC Radio 4's "Briefing Room" programme, had apparently clamoured for the 45th President's killing online "on the basis that he is a threat to America's security".
Posting on social media, Aaronovitch said: "If I was Biden I'd hurry up and have Trump murdered on the basis that he is a threat to America's security" - sparking instant outrage online.
In response, some claimed the presenter's post had amounted to an "open call for violence", with others suggesting "people have had police visits for a lot less".
Aaronovitch's original post was taken down
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While GB News contributor Alex Armstrong slammed the broadcaster, saying: "Backtracking now. Did your handlers get in touch and tell you to deny it?"
Aaronovitch later appeared to U-turn on the post, suggesting the replies to his comments amounted to a "far right pile on" from "the daftest people on this site".
He said: "There's now a far right pile on suggesting that my tweet about the Supreme Court's ruling on presidential immunity is an incitement to violence when it’s plainly a satire. So I’m deleting it.
"If nothing else though it’s given me a map of some the daftest people on this site."
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Some claimed the presenter's post had amounted to an "open call for violence" against Trump
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One reply from journalist Jack Montgomery accusing the Radio 4 host of "Trump Derangement Syndrome", prompted Aaronovitch to jab: "Did you see the Supreme Court ruling Jack? Or were you too busy with your head up Nigel Farage's derriere?"
The landmark ruling today saw the 45th President - seeking re-election this November - granted immunity for "official acts", or actions "within his conclusive and preclusive constitutional authority".
But crucially, Trump is not immune from prosecution for "unofficial acts" - essentially, anything the ex-Commander-in-Chief has done privately "out of office", so to speak.
Chief Justice John Roberts, announcing the ruling which had been voted through by a margin of six to three justices, said "the nature of Presidential power entitles a former President to absolute immunity from criminal prosecution" for official acts taken as President.
Trump will challenge Joe Biden at the polls on November 5 as he seeks to become just the second President since Grover Cleveland to serve two non-consecutive terms.
And the court's slow handling of the blockbuster case already had helped him by making it unlikely that any trial on the charges, brought by Special Counsel Jack Smith, could be completed before the election.
Trump had argued that he is immune from prosecution because he was serving as President when he took the actions that led to the charges - but Smith had opposed presidential immunity from prosecution based on the principle that no one is above the law.
If he regains the Presidency in November, Trump could try to force an end to the prosecution or potentially pardon himself for any federal crimes.
