President Donald Trump said Monday he would move to protect Elon Musk and could issue preemptive pardons for staff and allies if Democrats take control of Congress in Tuesday's midterm elections and pursue investigations against them. In an interview with Pod Force One host Miranda Devine, Trump was asked about rumors that Musk was being investigated or could have his assets seized. He said he would pardon staff and allies: “I would not even think about it. I'd do it.”
According to Axios, Trump suggested the possibility of pre-emptive pardons for staff and others around him if Democrats pursue investigations once the votes are counted. Musk, the SpaceX and Tesla CEO, has spent nearly half a billion dollars opposing Democrats during this election cycle, the outlet reported, a detail that underscores why his name came up specifically in Trump's remarks.
Trump also said he would pardon staff or others around him if he believed it was necessary, saying in the Pod Force One interview with Miranda Devine, “I would if I needed to. Sure.” Separately, as reported by People, Trump said he'd be prepared to preemptively pardon anyone who has worked for him if the Democrats take Congress. In the interview, when asked about rumors of Musk being investigated or having assets seized, he said, “if it is talk, we'll have to protect them.”
Trump Points to His Jan. 6 Pardons as Precedent
Trump pointed to his own record on clemency to explain his thinking, telling reporters, “I did it for J6,” a reference to his pardon of roughly 1,500 defendants convicted in connection with the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot, per the same People report. A White House directive from January 2025 ordered the attorney general to administer and effectuate the immediate issuance of certificates of pardon to individuals covered by that clemency action, according to a notice posted on WhiteHouse.gov.
The president's comments came amid discussions among Democrats about potential investigations should they win back majorities in the House or Senate, the article notes. Rep. Jamie Raskin said the party could use subpoena power to investigate the president's family if Democrats win control of the House, per the same account.
Democrats Weigh Scope of Potential Investigations
Sen. Elissa Slotkin, a Michigan Democrat, has said Democrats should focus investigations not just on the president but on the people who enabled him, according to CNN. Slotkin said she wants investigations to send a message to people weighing whether to join the next administration, saying, “I want that deterrence message sent.”
Both parties are already bracing for what is expected to be an outpouring of congressional investigations if Democrats win, CNN reported. Separately, Forbes reported that Democrats are preparing to launch a range of probes into Trump and his allies, including whether Musk's businesses benefitted from his ties to Trump, according to Forbes.
How Biden's Pardons Set the Stage
Trump's remarks echo a tactic former President Joe Biden used before leaving office. Biden issued preemptive pardons to former White House medical adviser Dr. Anthony Fauci, according to People's reporting, along with Gen. Mark Milley, members and staff of the House January 6 committee, and several relatives, including his son, Hunter Biden.
Trump held a campaign rally in Rock Hill, South Carolina, on October 29, rallying support for local Republican candidates ahead of the midterms, Bakersfield Now reported. At that event and in subsequent remarks, Trump called the polls rigged and cited rally crowd sizes to argue Republicans would outperform expectations.
