Trump floats pardons to protect Musk and staffers
The gist
President Donald Trump said he would "protect" Elon Musk and consider pre-emptive pardons for aides if Democrats investigate.
The remarks come before midterms, with House Democrats reportedly preparing to target Musk.
How it unfolded
- Nov 24, 2025The Trump administration disbanded the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), the federal cost-cutting team previously led by Elon Musk; several DOGE staffers were said to fear future federal charges without protections.
- Oct 1, 2026Trump said in an interview he was considering pre-emptively pardoning members of his administration before the end of his second term.
- Nov 2, 2026In the "Pod Force One" interview, Trump said he would move to "protect" Musk if investigators targeted him, calling rumors of an investigation "talk."