WASHINGTON — Former President Donald Trump said he would consider issuing pre-emptive pardons to administration officials if Democrats pursue criminal cases against them should they regain control of Congress, he told The New York Post's Miranda Devine on her Pod Force One podcast.
Trump's remarks came as Democrats have floated the prospect of investigations and prosecutions of Trump administration figures if they win congressional majorities. Senator Elissa Slotkin of Michigan suggested a Democratic majority should pursue what she described as 'signature cases' against people who enabled the administration, stating she wanted 'that deterrence message sent.' Representative Jamie Raskin of Maryland, who could become House Judiciary Committee chairman if Democrats win control, has pledged to investigate what he described as 'systemic corruption' within the administration.
'I would if I needed to. Sure,' Trump said when asked whether he would grant pardons to protect former and current administration officials from possible prosecution. When pressed on whether the offer would extend to everyone who had worked for him, Trump reaffirmed: 'I'd do it. I did it for J6.' He was referring to his pardon of approximately 1,500 defendants charged in connection with the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, which he signed on his first day back in office in January 2025.
Trump pointed to President Joe Biden's use of presidential clemency shortly before leaving office, noting Biden issued pre-emptive pardons to Dr Anthony Fauci, former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley, members and staff of the House committee that investigated the January 6 attack, and several members of his family including Hunter Biden.
'That's what Biden did. He gave everybody a pardon,' Trump said.
The former president also dismissed the prospect of Democrats targeting billionaire Elon Musk, saying: 'It won't happen. It's talk. But if it is talk, we'll have to protect them.'
Trump criticized the congressional committee that investigated the Capitol attack, referring to it as the 'unselect committee' and a 'corrupt committee.' He also questioned polling indicating Democrats were favored to gain control of the House, describing the surveys as 'rigged' and pointing to attendance at his campaign rallies as evidence Republicans could perform better than expected.
However, presidential pardons have constitutional limits. They apply to federal offences and cannot prevent state-level prosecutions, civil lawsuits or impeachment proceedings. Asked whether Democrats might also pursue action against him personally, Trump was less certain: 'Well, I don't know about me.'
The comments underscore the potential for heightened political friction as the midterm elections approach, with both sides signaling readiness to use executive and congressional powers to hold the other accountable.
