US President-elect Donald Trump may start going after his political opponents after taking office due to numerous impeachments, investigations, indictments and lawsuits, such fears were expressed by his supporters and opponents in a conversation with the New York Times in the piece ‘With Trump’s return to power, his allies and opponents expect a wave of revenge’.
The Republican’s advisers urged not to be surprised if he launches a campaign against his opponents. One of the newspaper’s interlocutors emphasised that Trump does not believe that one can forgive and forget, adheres to the principle of ‘an eye for an eye’, and cannot forget what has happened over the past four years.
Sources said Trump’s advisers have different positions, with some calling for prosecution of opponents, insisting that the legal claims against him have crossed the line and justify retaliation. Other advisers, who include wealthy donors, see this path as unproductive and suggest focusing on a policy agenda of tax cuts, tariffs and tougher immigration laws.
As the NYT writes, the identity of the attorney general that Trump nominates will be important. If it becomes Matthew Whitaker or someone similar to him, it will be a sign of the Republican’s decision to punish his enemies, the newspaper’s interlocutors said. Conversely, they said, if Jay Clayton or someone like him becomes attorney general, it would signal the president’s willingness to focus more on other issues.
Trump has repeatedly threatened to punish his political opponents since his resignation. Last year, he promised to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate Joe Biden’s family and the president himself, whom he called ‘the most corrupt’ in U.S. history. Trump has also proposed court martialing former President Barack Obama, Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris, former Republican Vice President Mike Pence, former Republican Congresswoman Liz Cheney and other politicians. NPR estimates that in total, Trump has voiced more than 100 threats against his opponents.
This summer, he said he has every right to go after his opponents.
‘Revenge takes time. I will say this. And sometimes revenge can be justified