Trump Says He Could Have Done Bad Things to Clinton, Obama, Biden
President Trump said Wednesday he could have done 'very bad things' to Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden, and Barack Obama but held back out of respect for the presidency. He added that restraint may no longer apply.
- Trump made the remarks in the Oval Office, responding to a Fox News question about impeachment.
- 2 impeachments of Trump during his first term preceded the remarks; the Senate acquitted him both times.
- Trump's Justice Department has indicted former FBI Director James Comey and New York AG Letitia James.
- Judges dismissed those charges, though Comey was indicted a second time.
Why it matters: The remarks land days before the Nov. 3 midterms, where Democratic control of Congress could trigger impeachment proceedings.
- Trump did not specify what actions or investigations he was weighing against the named Democrats.
- The Justice Department has also opened a probe into former Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell over building renovations.
How 8 sources split on this story
Where they split: Whether Trump's comments are a statement of self-restraint or a threat of future action is the central dispute across coverage.
Center coverage, 3 sources: The center focuses on Trump's stated self-restraint and the factual record of Justice Department actions, presenting the remarks as politically charged but contextualizing them within impeachment history.
Left coverage, 5 sources: The left treats the remarks as an overt threat against political opponents and evidence of authoritarian impulses unchecked by precedent or law.
Raw Story3hTrump bizarre impeachment rant stuns Oval Office onlookers: 'This is not normal'
The Independent3hTrump didn’t do ‘bad things’ to Obama, Clinton and Biden out of ‘respect’ for office
Mediaite4hTrump Ominously Says He Can Do ‘Bad Things’ To Top Democrats: ‘I Can Do Whatever I Want& ...
Political Wire3hAnother Bonus Quote of the DayWhat’s next: Articles of impeachment against Trump have already been filed, according to reporting citing unauthorized Iran military action and pardons.
- Trump said he views the presidency as 'a very sacred position' and that he continues to weigh his options.
- What specific actions against Clinton, Biden, or Obama did Trump have in mind but chose not to pursue?
- Will Democratic gains in November change how the Justice Department handles pending or future cases against Trump's political adversaries?