Trump’s Campaign Rhetoric Sparks Worries of Retribution-Driven Presidency
As Donald Trump’s remarks about his political adversaries intensify, many Democrats have warned that, if re-elected, he might bring with him an "enemies list" and launch an unprecedented campaign of revenge. However, despite these warnings, voters elected him, and Trump’s allies insist that these concerns are exaggerated. They argue that Trump’s tough talk is often just theatrics, pointing to the 2016 campaign’s “lock her up” chants directed at Hillary Clinton, which ultimately did not result in prosecution.
Trump has a reputation for targeting those who oppose him. He actively campaigned against Republicans who supported his impeachments and dismissed FBI Director James Comey over his handling of the Russia investigation. He also replaced Attorney General Jeff Sessions after he recused himself from the same inquiry. More recently, his Justice Department reportedly sought a criminal probe into former Secretary of State John Kerry due to a dispute over the Iran nuclear deal.
The key question now is whether Trump’s current campaign rhetoric is merely bluster or a signal of retribution to come. Would a re-elected Trump, with recent Supreme Court rulings offering immunity for presidential actions, pursue legal actions against high-profile opponents? On the campaign trail, he has threatened legal actions against figures like President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, former GOP Rep. Liz Cheney, and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, even accusing some of treason. At a Pennsylvania rally, he suggested Harris should be "impeached and prosecuted" over immigration issues.
Despite these statements, Trump insiders downplay the idea of a revenge-fueled presidency, citing the example of Clinton. “He never did it before,” says a Republican consultant close to the campaign, suggesting Trump is more focused on achieving a strong economy than on pursuing personal grievances.
Some, however, remain skeptical. Tim O’Brien, a Trump biographer, argues that assuming Trump will tone down his approach if re-elected is a misunderstanding of his character. Trump’s language on the trail has varied, with some remarks hinting at prosecutions and others suggesting that "success" would be his ultimate form of revenge.
Roger Stone, a longtime adviser, echoed this perspective. “If he didn’t do it in his first term, why would he do it now?” Stone said, though he did add that those who broke the law "should be prosecuted."
Others in Trump’s orbit see a potential for conflict with the federal bureaucracy, which, according to Matt Schlapp, head of the Conservative Political Action Conference, will seek to undermine his presidency. Schlapp argues that Trump should be prepared to "fight" back.
Some observers, while doubtful Trump will seek indictments, believe he may overhaul the Justice Department, which has pursued investigations into Trump over his 2020 election actions and classified documents. Trump has pledged to fire Special Counsel Jack Smith, who is handling these cases. Former Trump aide Sam Nunberg predicts a large-scale DOJ shake-up, though he believes it would focus on personnel changes rather than prosecutions.
A restructured DOJ, critics argue, could compromise the agency’s independence, allowing the president to go after perceived enemies. Ty Cobb, a former Trump White House attorney, warns of "loyalty tests" that could turn the DOJ into a tool for personal vendettas.
O’Brien describes Trump’s campaign as a “revenge tour,” believing an emboldened Trump could adopt an authoritarian approach unseen in modern U.S. history. "The consequences could be grave," O’Brien said.
Kamala Harris highlighted these concerns in her campaign, suggesting Trump would arrive with an “enemies list.” But Trump’s allies dismiss this notion, emphasizing his interest in turning the country around rather than pursuing revenge. Stone, himself pardoned by Trump, claims that “the greatest possible ‘(expletive) you’ would be to be the most popular president in American history.”
Marc Short, former chief of staff to Trump’s Vice President Mike Pence, described Trump’s rhetoric as “unfortunate” and said conservatives traditionally uphold the rule of law. Short referenced authoritarian regimes as cautionary tales and suggested it would be concerning if Trump pursued similar tactics.
While acknowledging that Trump never followed through on prosecuting Clinton in 2016, Short noted that his rhetoric has been more extreme this time, making the question of follow-through more relevant.
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