Welker Asks Trump About DOJ Policy
In a revealing and high-stakes interview on Meet the Press, President-elect Donald Trump fielded a barrage of questions from host Kristen Welker about whether his administration would leverage the levers of government to pursue political rivals.
The discussion revolved around Trump’s nominations of Pam Bondi for attorney general and Kash Patel for FBI director—both figures who have drawn attention for their strong conservative stances and perceived loyalty to Trump’s vision.
Welker pressed Trump repeatedly on the issue of political retribution, referencing Patel’s book, which lists over 60 individuals he calls members of the “deep state.” This list includes prominent Democrats like Joe Biden and Hillary Clinton, as well as former Trump administration officials such as Bill Barr and Christopher Wray.
When asked whether Patel would be tasked with investigating figures from this list, Trump demurred. “No,” he said firmly, adding, “He’s going to do what he thinks is right.”
Trump emphasized that his nominees, both Bondi and Patel, were chosen for their fairness and competence, not for any perceived vendetta against political opponents. He expressed confidence in their ability to act independently and fairly, stating, “Pam Bondi has been like a rocket ship, she’s very popular and very good and very fair, and Kash Patel is very fair.”
When Welker turned the conversation to specific figures, including President Joe Biden, Jack Smith (the special counsel investigating Trump), and even former Republican Rep. Liz Cheney, Trump consistently rejected the idea of using his administration to target political enemies.
“I’m looking to make our country successful. Retribution will be through success,” he remarked, framing his focus as being on policy and governance rather than personal vendettas.
The persistent line of questioning reflects heightened concerns about the potential for politicization of justice under Trump’s administration. However, his responses suggest an attempt to distance himself from perceptions of orchestrating retaliatory investigations, even as he left open the possibility for his appointees to act as they see fit.
For instance, when asked about Bondi potentially investigating Jack Smith, Trump replied, “I want her to do whatever she has to do,” but stopped short of endorsing direct action.
As the interview drew to a close, Welker’s final probes touched on whether Trump believed Liz Cheney should be imprisoned for her role on the January 6 committee. Trump’s answer was again noncommittal: “Not at all,” he said, though he acknowledged that “they’ll have to look at that.” His parting note on the matter shifted to energy policy: “I’m going to focus on drill, baby, drill,” signaling his intent to prioritize broader national issues over personal grievances.