Bolton’s bold prediction
Former National Security Adviser John Bolton, who served in the Trump administration, issued a warning in an interview that the public is not taking former President Trump’s threats of revenge seriously enough.
“I don’t think enough people are,” Bolton said during an interview on MSNBC’s “The 11th Hour,” when asked if people are adequately considering these threats.
“When you hear Trump saying things like, ‘People are saying that retribution can be justified,’ what he really means is: ‘I’m saying retribution can be justified,’” Bolton explained.
“And I think he’s got a long list of adversaries he wants to go after.”
What we know
Trump, who has faced criminal indictments in four cases since leaving office, has often indicated an interest in targeting his political opponents if he regains the presidency.
He has frequently told his supporters at rallies, “I am your retribution.”
Bolton expressed concern that the federal judiciary could face significant pressure if Trump, the leading GOP presidential candidate, is elected to a second term.
“But I think the Justice Department under a Trump administration will be in continuing chaos, as he tells his political appointees to go after Mr. X or Ms. Y, whether there are grounds to do it or not. And what those lawyers do will tell you a lot about their legal integrity,” Bolton stated.
A jury found Trump guilty on all 34 counts of falsifying business records to conceal alleged affairs during his 2016 campaign, marking him as the first former U.S. president convicted of a felony.
Trump has characterized his legal troubles as “election interference” orchestrated by the Biden White House.
And, if they truly are, he wouldn’t be the first one to use political means to punish his adversaries.
If anything, he would be dishing back what had been dealt to him.
In an interview on “Dr. Phil,” Trump responded to the host’s suggestion that he might not have time to “get even” with his critics.
“Well, revenge does take time, I will say that. And sometimes revenge can be justified, Phil, I have to be honest. Sometimes it can,” Trump said.
“I think the country is really worse for what they’ve done, and I think you see that when you look at the poll numbers,” Trump continued.
“When you see that almost $400 million has poured in since this horrible decision was made. That was a few days ago. Numbers that nobody’s ever heard of in politics before. It’s a great honor. The people of our country get it.”
Following the verdict, Trump told Fox News’s Sean Hannity he would have “every right to go after them” after his own prosecution.
He also mentioned to Newsmax that it was “very possible” Democrats could face prosecution in the future.
