Trump Vows to Protect Elon Musk and Selected Staff with Pardons When He Leaves Office!
President Trump said Monday he would move to protect Elon Musk if Democrats pursue investigations into the SpaceX and Tesla CEO following the midterm elections, while also expressing willingness to consider preemptive pardons for administration staff and others around him.
The comments came during an interview with Miranda Devine for the “Pod Force One” podcast published early Monday. Devine asked Trump about rumors that Musk could face investigations or attempts to seize his assets if Democrats gain power after the elections.
“It’s talk. But if it is talk, we’ll have to protect them,” Trump responded.
Trump did not announce a specific protective measure or explain what action his administration might take. His remarks nevertheless signaled that potential investigations targeting Musk could become another confrontation between the White House and congressional Democrats during the final two years of his presidency.
MUSK’S ELECTION SPENDING TAKES CENTER STAGE
According to the supplied reporting, Musk has spent nearly half a billion dollars opposing Democrats during the current election cycle, placing substantial financial resources behind efforts to defeat the party’s candidates.
That spending forms a significant backdrop to Devine’s question about whether Musk could become a target after the midterms. However, the interview did not establish that an investigation or effort to seize his assets was underway.
Musk has also delivered stark warnings about the political stakes. He recently suggested that a Democrat victory in the race for the White House and control of Congress in 2028 would mean the “end of democracy.”
Trump’s response indicated that he was willing to intervene on Musk’s behalf, although the scope and legal basis of any potential intervention remained unspecified.
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TRUMP OPEN TO PREEMPTIVE PARDONS
Beyond Musk, Trump said he would consider pardons for staff and other allies if Democrats pursue them.
“I would if I needed to. Sure,” Trump said when asked about the possibility.
“I would not even think about it. I’d do it,” he added.
The president did not name potential recipients, identify particular offenses, or announce that any pardons had been prepared. His comments expressed willingness to use his pardon authority if he concluded that circumstances warranted it.
The exchange raised the prospect that pardons could become part of Trump’s response to legal pressure on people around him as the administration enters its final two years.
MIDTERMS COULD SET UP NEW CONFRONTATIONS
Control of Congress will help determine the political environment facing Trump for the remainder of his term. A Democrat takeover of either chamber could give the party greater ability to launch committee investigations, demand documents and call administration officials to testify.
The supplied report described polls as increasingly pointing toward the possibility of a significant Democrat wave. The election results, however, will determine whether that prospect translates into congressional control.
Trump’s interview comments offered an early indication of how he might respond to investigations involving prominent supporters and members of his administration: by publicly defending them and considering presidential action where he believes it is necessary.
TRUMP ADDRESSES THIRD-TERM QUESTION
During the same interview, Trump said he would love to run for a third term but acknowledged that the constitutional language is “very exacting.”
While appearing to recognize the barrier to another presidential run, Trump emphasized that his current term still provides substantial time to carry out his priorities.
“You know, we have more than two years left. That’s a long time. You can do a lot in that period of time,” he said.
His remarks paired a determination to continue advancing his agenda with a warning that he is prepared to defend people around him against potential investigations after the midterms.
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