In his first network television interview since he won the 2024 election, President-elect Donald Trump discussed several plans for his upcoming administration from immigration, health care, and his plans for the Justice Department in an interview with NBC News’ Kristen Welker.
Trump vowed to pardon those who have been jailed for their role on Jan. 6 on his first day in office.
“First day. Yeah, I’m looking for these pardons,” Trump said. “Look. I know the system. The system’s a very corrupt system. They say to a guy, ‘You’re going to go to jail for two years or for 30 years.’ And these guys are looking, their whole lives have been destroyed.”
According to the Department of Justice, more than 1,500 people have been arrested or charged in connection with the January 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol.
Trump’s latest comments come as his pick for FBI director, Kash Patel, comes under scrutiny for comments he made last year, saying he would come after Trump’s political enemies if he had the chance — including those in the media.
“If they think that somebody was dishonest or crooked or corrupt politician, I think he probably has an obligation to do it,” Trump said about Patel investigating his rivals.
Trump also slammed the House Select Committee investigating Jan. 6, calling for its members — which includes Liz Cheney and Senator-elect Adam Schiff — to be jailed.
“Cheney was behind it. So is Benny Thompson and everybody on that committee, honestly, they should go to jail,” he said.
Last week, the White House confirmed that President Joe Biden will issue more pardons and is considering some for lawmakers who led the two impeachment cases against Trump or sat on the House committee that investigated the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol.
The names under consideration include retired Gen. Mark Milley, former GOP Rep. Liz Cheney, Senator-elect Adam Schiff, and Dr. Anthony Fauci.
Trump was asked about Biden possibly pardoning Cheney and others on the January 6 select committee.
“Biden can give them a pardon if he wants to. And maybe he should,” he said.
Elsewhere in the interview, Trump doubled down on his vow for mass deportations.
“I think you have to do it,” Trump said of his deportation effort. “It’s a very tough thing to do. It’s — but you have to have, you know, you have rules, regulations, laws. They came in illegally. You know, the people that have been treated very unfairly are the people that have been on line for 10 years to come into the country.”
