Trump expresses willingness to grant preemptive pardons to allies

US President Trump stated on November 2 that if the Democratic Party wins enough seats to control the House of Representatives and the Senate and launches widespread investigations and potential prosecutions, he will be willing to issue "preemptive" pardons to allies and assistants, including US entrepreneur Elon Musk, according to The New York Times.

Potential investigations and responses

In a media interview, Trump vowed to protect Musk. When asked about measures the Democratic Party might take against billionaire Elon Musk, an interviewer for a podcast program hinted at rumors that Democrats plan to "arrest" Musk, "confiscate his factories," and "nationalize" SpaceX, according to The New York Post.

Trump responded to these claims by stating they are currently just rumors and "this cannot happen, it's just talk." However, he stated that if these threats are actually carried out, "we must protect them." When specifically asked if he would grant a "preemptive" pardon to Musk and others, Trump replied, "If necessary, of course I would do that."

Historical context of pardons

Trump mentioned that he has previously signed an executive order granting broad pardons to more than 1,500 supporters charged after the January 6, 2021 attack on the US Capitol. He also compared his potential actions to measures taken by Democratic former President Biden before leaving office, stating, "Biden did this," and noting that he granted pardons to many people.

According to previous reports, in January 2025, Biden announced "preemptive" pardons for several of his relatives. This pardon order included five people: Biden's brother James Biden and his wife, Biden's sister Valerie Biden Owens and her husband, and his brother Francis Biden. Biden stated that these pardons should not be misinterpreted as these individuals having committed any wrongdoing, and that accepting the pardons should not be misinterpreted as admitting guilt.

Midterm election context

The US midterm elections are scheduled for November 3. US mainstream polls predict that the Democratic Party is expected to win control of the House of Representatives in the election, but whether they can "flip" the Senate remains highly uncertain.

To help the Republican Party win the midterm elections, it was revealed that Musk has invested nearly $500 million. According to multiple foreign media reports, Musk may therefore become the largest individual donor in the midterm elections. According to The New York Times, Musk has not yet responded to the matter regarding the potential pardons.

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Sources

• finance.eastmoney.com (in Chinese): Trump Says He Will Be Willing to Grant "Preemptive" Pardon to Musk to Prevent Investigation After Democratic Victory in Midterm Elections
• chinanews.com.cn (in Chinese): Trump says he is willing to grant "preemptive" pardon to Musk to prevent investigation after Democratic victory in midterm elections

This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.