WASHINGTON Donald Trumps claim to total immunity is a bridge too far for Senate Republicans, even some who are normally willing to say or do anything to show their support for the former president who tried to overthrow democracy.

Trumps attorney last week argued before the Supreme Court that the presumptive 2024 GOP nominee cant be held criminally liable for anything he did as president without being first impeached and convicted by Congress. This absolute immunity, the lawyer said, applied to outrageous hypotheticals posed by the justices, including a president ordering a military coup, selling nuclear secrets or directing the assassination of a political rival.

On Wednesday, GOP senators squirmed and scoffed when asked if they agree with Trump that a president is immune from being prosecuted for anything, including ordering the murder of a political opponent.

Obviously, presidents cant assassinate political rivals, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) said flatly.

The court is likely to reject or sidestep Trumps bid for total immunity, and send the case back to a lower court for more deliberation over what counts as an official presidential act. Trumps team has argued that many of his actions aimed at overturning the 2020 election were part of his official duties including when he directed the submission of fraudulent slates of alternate electors in the election, despite President Joe Bidens victory.

Well, I mean, theres got to be some immunity for official acts. The question is, what are those, said Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.). I dont know the answer to that.

Hawley, a lawyer himself, wouldnt say whether he would have made the same argument about total immunity that Trumps lawyers did before the Supreme Court.

Ill do my fellow lawyers the courtesy of not second-guessing them, he said.

Is there any scenario, though, in which a president should be granted immunity for assassinating a political rival?

I have a hard time seeing that, Hawley finally said.

Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), one of a handful of Republican senators who voted to convict Trump for inciting an insurrection, said he definitely did not agree. He mimicked a gun with his hand and pointed it at a HuffPost reporters head.

I mean, could I, as president, shoot you in the head? Cassidy said. Of course not.