President Trump stated he would issue preemptive pardons to protect his administration staff if Democrats take control and pursue prosecutions. Miranda Devine of the New York Post heard him clarify this in an interview. Trump confirmed he is ready to shield everyone who worked for him from legal threats.
When asked if this applied to his entire team, he replied, “I would if I needed to. Sure.” The New York Post reported this exchange happened during a “Pod Force One” interview. He added simply, “I’d do it,” when pressed on the scope of the protection.
Trump pointed to former President Joe Biden’s actions as the direct reason for his move. He noted, “That’s what Biden did. He gave everybody a pardon.” The New York Post cited his reference to pardons for Dr. Anthony Fauci and Gen. Mark Milley. He also mentioned Hunter Biden and members of the House Jan. 6 committee.
MASSIVE: President Trump VOWS to protect Elon Musk and those in his administration that Democrats may try to go after if they retake the House and Senate — and would consider preemptively pardoning them before he leaves office.
Miranda Devine: “[Democrats] want to arrest Elon Musk. They want to seize his factories, nationalize SpaceX.”
President Trump: “They won’t, it’s talk. But if it is talk, we’ll have to protect them.”
Miranda Devine: “Big balls. They want to arrest him. Anyone around you who enabled you.”
President Trump: “Well, I don’t know about me. I can tell you this. If they do, we’ll just have to protect those people.”
Miranda Devine: “How do you do that? Can you preemptively pardon them?”
President Trump: “Well, that’s what Biden did. He gave everybody a pardon. I mean, you had the congressional committee, the unselect committee set up. He gave everybody; it was a corrupt committee. They were all corrupt. He gave everybody a pardon.”
Miranda Devine: “Will you do that?”
President Trump: “I would if I needed to, sure.”
Miranda Devine: “Everybody who worked for you?”
President Trump: “I would not even think about it. I’d do it. I did it for J6.”
— RedWave Press (@RedWavePress) November 2, 2026
He described the panel that investigated the Capitol riots as “the unselect committee” and “a corrupt committee.” In 2025, upon returning to office, he pardoned roughly 1,500 defendants on his first day. This precedent is why he feels compelled to act now.
Breitbart reported that Trump mentioned protecting specific allies like Secretary of War Pete Hegseth. He sees this as a necessary defense against political targeting. That outlet observed he would grant such pardons should Democrats execute threats against them.
At a University of Chicago event, Senator Elissa Slotkin stated that a Democratic majority ought to prosecute “signature cases.” The New York Post quoted her saying she wants to go after “the people who enable” Trump. She stated she wants that deterrence message sent regarding prosecuting Trump administration staff.
Townhall’s undercover recording captured Sen. But if it is talk, we’ll have to protect them.” Devine had stated, “They seek to arrest Elon Musk, seize his factories, and nationalize SpaceX.
Trump dismissed these threats as talk but kept his options open. He told the New York Post that Biden gave everybody a pardon and referenced the congressional committee and the unselect committee established. He called it a corrupt group where “they were all corrupt.”
Other Democrats have made similar promises. Breitbart reported that Rep. Robert Garcia said in July his party would investigate the Trump family for “corruption” if they won the majority. Months later, Rep. Melanie Stansbury said they would investigate and possibly impeach Trump’s cabinet secretaries.
Trump told Breitbart he would not even think about it and that he would do it, noting he did it for J6. This confirms his willingness to use the full power of the pardon to stop legal actions against his team. The situation remains fluid as the midterms approach.
