In a strategic move, former President Donald Trump's lawyers and advisors have accepted that the Supreme Court is likely to rule against his expansive claims to presidential immunity in perpetuity. The case, designed as a delaying tactic to push Trump's criminal election subversion trial past Election Day this fall, has already achieved its intended goal.

According to three individuals with direct knowledge of the matter, Trump's legal team had initially anticipated the Supreme Court maneuver would postpone the trial only until around the summer. However, the court's conservative supermajority, which Trump played an instrumental role in building during his presidency, surprised many by agreeing to consider his immunity claims. This decision has effectively pushed the trial beyond the November elections, relieving political pressure on the presumptive Republican presidential nominee.

While Trump's lawyers do not expect the Supreme Court to endorse his views on immunity, there is still a risk that the ultra-conservative court might partially support them. Throughout the process, Trump's legal team has advanced two arguments. First, they assert that impeachment is the only constitutional route to address criminal acts committed by a president, regardless of timing. They claim that any attempts to prosecute Trump outside of the impeachment framework would constitute double jeopardy, which they deem unconstitutional.

Secondly, Trump's attorneys contend that principles from civil cases against sitting presidents, which grant absolute civil immunity for official acts within the "outer perimeter" of the office, should also extend to criminal cases and prohibit prosecution. These claims have raised concerns among judges, with one incredulous appellate judge asking if a president who ordered the assassination of a political rival could be subject to criminal prosecution. Trump's lawyer cautiously responded that impeachment and conviction would precede any potential criminal prosecution under their interpretation of immunity.

Despite the expected loss in the Supreme Court's immunity case, Trump's legal team and advisors remain unfazed. Their primary objective of delaying the trial past Election Day has already been accomplished. This outcome is seen as a significant victory for Trump's 2024 campaign and his top attorneys.

The Supreme Court's imminent ruling on Trump's immunity claims may have wide-ranging implications for future presidential accountability. While the former president's arguments have been characterized as extreme, the outcome will shape the understanding of executive power and immunity in the American legal system.

As the case reaches its conclusion, it is clear that Trump's legal maneuver has successfully extended the timeline for his trial. Regardless of the Supreme Court's decision, Trump's camp is celebrating what they perceive as a heist already pulled off, leaving political and legal consequences to be navigated in the months to come.