Trump says he would protect Musk, consider pre‑emptive pardons for aides
In a podcast interview Trump raised shielding Musk from Democratic probes and pardoning staff if the GOP loses Congress in the midterms.
What to know
- Trump made the comments in an interview for the "Pod Force One" podcast published around the midterm elections.
- The statement signals Trump is preparing for a combative final two years in office amid polling suggesting a significant Democratic wave.
- Pre-emptive pardons for aides and associates would be a notable expansion of presidential clemency power if pursued.
Donald Trump U.S. President
Elon Musk Tesla and SpaceX CEO
How it unfolded 1 development · click the chart to see its coverage articlespostscomments
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first by MoneyWise.com, 6d ago · also Yahoo News Singapore, MS NOW, Bloomberg, USA Today, Firstpost, New Republic +2
7 more headlines
- Trump Says He’d Pardon Elon Musk, DOGE Lackeys Yahoo News Singapore · 6d ago
- Trump eyes possible pardon for Elon Musk, in addition to White House staffers MS NOW · 6d ago
- Trump Says He Would Offer Pardons to Musk, Aides If Necessary Bloomberg · 6d ago
- Trump says he would issue pardons to Elon Musk, aides if necessary USA Today · 5d ago
- Does Elon Musk need the protection of the presidential pardon? Donald Trump thinks so Firstpost · 5d ago
- Trump Vows to Pardon Elon Musk New Republic · 5d ago
- Trump readies preemptive pardon for Elon Musk as midterm blowout looms Raw Story · 5d ago
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first by Forbes, 6d ago · also Independent UK, Yahoo, NYT Politics, RedState
4 more headlines
- Trump floats pardons to ‘protect’ Elon Musk and staffers from Democrat investigations The Independent · 6d ago
- Trump Floats Pardon For Musk And Staff If Democrats Win Forbes · 5d ago
- Trump Floats Pre-Emptive Pardons for Allies if Democrats Take Congress in Midterms NYT Politics · 5d ago
- What's Good for the Goose: Trump Floats Preemptive Pardons to Foil Democrats RedState · 5d ago
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J
⚠️ BREAKING: Trump says he'll issue preemptive pardons to Musk and his aides as Dems prepare to investigate his alleged crimes… Are you actually SURPRISED?! Well, of course you’re not. Now, go VOTE!! 😎🇺🇸✨
2 more of the top 3 · 471 posts in this stretch
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BREAKING: Trump said he would be willing to offer protective pardons to Elon Musk and close aides if Democrats take control of Congress after the midterm elections
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this is why nothing can phase the hard MAGA crowd. they simply could care less what these people have done, its all about the standard talking points they agree on (trans people, immigrants, etc) and until democrats grow a spine and start legitimately going after this nothing will ever change. even if they sweep this election + the next…
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Also covered reported alongside — the timeline has no entry for these yet
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first by New York Post, 6d ago · also NY Post
and 2 smaller pieces
What people are saying 21 voices from 3 sites · best of 471 · verbatim
- Nov 3
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AXIOS: “Trump vows to protect Musk, floats pre-emptive pardons.” Aren’t y’all tired of this? The oligarchy is playing in our faces. Please vote. 🗳️
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If you pardon the aides, they can be compelled to testify. Pardoning doesn't protect against impeachment, and impeachment can happen even after you leave office. Seeing the aides forced to testify against the former cabinet would be awesome.
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I hate to be the guy that points out that a President preemptively pardoning blatant criminals is a tradition dating all the way back to George Washington and the Whiskey Rebellion pardons in 1795. That said, I still think these assholes need to be held accountable for the livelihoods that they have destroyed, either to make a buck or to cover…
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I doubt the last sentence as that would require Musk to have a conscience and possess empathy. It's not just with DOGE that Musk has likely committed crimes either, a lot of what he's done with his companies reeks of fraud etc.
- Nov 2
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https://www. independent.co.uk/news/world/a mericas/us-politics/trump-pardons-musk-democrat-investigations-b3077606.html?utm_source=flipboard&utm_medium=activitypub
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Probably not as trump can only pardon federal crimes, election rigging would likely fall into state jurisdiction if it did happen (which i doubt, but we live in crazy times)
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If he died suddenly, they wouldn't tell anyone. They would keep posting for him on his shitty platform. They would write up the pardons, autopen it, release it and then eventually accounce it once it's beneficial to do so.
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Pedro offers Big Balls his protection https://www. bloomberg.com/news/articles/20 26-11-02/trump-says-he-would-offer-pardons-to-musk-aides-if-necessary
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In my home country this is exactly the case. Head of state and head of government are separate, and there are rules for pardon, like self interest, bribe, etc, so even if given, it can be revoked if the person giving them is found problematic, which actually funny enough is happening right now. The leaving head of state, who just lost the…
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Then the states need to step up separately and bring charges for interfering in elections. He can’t pardon those
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Red flag: he’s signaling to Musk, to go ahead and meddle in the voting, interfere in the elections on his behalf. He need to get busted this time. Follow every dollar of his billions that he’s spending on Republicans.
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J
No surprise here…👇 Just robbing us blind, in plain sight. Enjoy. 😎🇺🇸✨
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M
And here he goes... Trump said he would be willing to protect Elon Musk and his staff if Democrats take control of Congress after the midterm elections this week. The president was asked by “Pod Force One” host Miranda Devine about rumors of Musk being investigated and having his assets seized. “It’s talk. But if it is talk, we’ll have to protect…
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A
Raw Story: Trump readies preemptive pardon for Elon Musk as midterm blowout looms https://www. rawstory.com/trump-elon-musk-2 678185482/ @ RawStory # Musk
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Criminal president vows to pardon other criminals. https://www. commondreams.org/news/trump-pr eemptive-pardon-musk
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Correct. DOJ did plenty of investigation into Hunter Biden and found nothing, zip, zero. Further investigation and prosecution by Trump administration would have been harassment. Not the case with what is being proposed
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R
In other news, 💬 # Trump said Monday he'd move to protect Elon Musk if Democrats investigate the # SpaceX and Tesla CEO after the midterm elections. https://www. axios.com/2026/11/02/trump-mus k-democrats # usa # elonmusk
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Sam Alito penning a oped in the NYT explaining the originalist legal principle called Special boy Theory.
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I’m no expert, but when you’re talking staff and donor pardons the day before elections, it probably means two things. 1. You know your regime is corrupt as fuck. 2. You further know that your fascist party is about to receive a massive fucking ass kicking at the polls.
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It is deeply perverse that the President has the power to pardon anyone who commits crimes on his orders. I would like the Roberts Court to explain to me how that is what the Founders intended.
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“.. said he would ‘protect’ the billionaire entrepreneur and any aides who were targeted by Congressional investigators, including Edward Coristine, who was part of Musk’s #DOGE project ..” @bloomberg.com