President Donald Trump has revealed that he is prepared to consider presidential pardons for billionaire Elon Musk and members of his former government team if Democrats regain control of Congress and launch investigations into their activities.
The president made the unexpected remarks during an interview with Miranda Devine on her Pod Force One podcast, discussing how his administration would respond to a potential wave of congressional investigations following Tuesday’s midterm elections.
Trump suggested that he would not hesitate to use his presidential authority to protect Musk and other associates if he believed it was necessary.
“We’ll have to protect them,” Trump told Devine.
Although the president initially dismissed Democrats’ investigative threats as largely political rhetoric, he acknowledged that preemptive pardons could become an option.
Asked whether he would consider such a move, Trump indicated that he would act if necessary.
“I would not even think about it,” the president said, referring to his willingness to issue pardons.
The comments come as Democrats prepare for the possibility of gaining control of the House, Senate or both chambers of Congress.
Several Democratic lawmakers have already raised the possibility of investigating Musk’s government connections, his business interests and his previous involvement in the Trump administration.
Musk, who previously led the Department of Government Efficiency, has become a particular focus of those proposed inquiries.
His companies, including SpaceX and Tesla, maintain substantial business relationships with the federal government, raising questions among Democrats about potential conflicts of interest.
Trump’s remarks suggest he is prepared to respond aggressively if those investigations move forward.
The president also defended the idea of preemptive pardons by pointing to similar actions taken by his predecessor, former President Joe Biden.
“That’s what Biden did, he gave everybody a pardon,” Trump said.
He was referring to Biden’s decision to grant pardons to members of the congressional committee that investigated the January 6, 2021, Capitol protest and related events.
The comparison appeared intended to frame potential pardons for Musk and his associates as an established use of presidential authority rather than an unprecedented step.
Musk has also made clear that he has no intention of quietly accepting investigations into his activities.
Last month, the billionaire issued a warning on X after reports emerged that Democrats were considering congressional inquiries targeting him.
“Those who pick fights with me should understand that I will find out who is really pulling the strings and come for them, not just their puppets,” Musk wrote.
The statement reflected the increasingly confrontational atmosphere surrounding the possibility of expanded Democratic oversight.
And Musk may not be the only former government figure considered for protection.
During the interview, Devine also raised the possibility of investigations involving Edward Coristine, the 19-year-old former Department of Government Efficiency employee known online as “Big Balls.”
Trump did not rule out granting Coristine a pardon.
However, the president did not announce any actual pardons or identify specific criminal charges against the individuals discussed.
The potential investigations would involve several major government contracts awarded to Musk’s businesses during Trump’s second administration.
According to an analysis published Friday by the Democracy Defenders Fund, Musk’s companies have received approximately $10 billion in government contracts and grants since he departed DOGE, as Forbes reported.
Among the agreements highlighted was a $5.9 billion SpaceX contract with the U.S. Space Force involving the development of a space launch architecture.
Another contract, valued at $2.29 billion, concerns the development of a space data network.
Musk’s artificial intelligence company, xAI, also received a $200 million Pentagon contract involving the integration of artificial intelligence into military operations.
Democratic lawmakers could examine whether any of those arrangements involved preferential treatment connected to Musk’s relationship with the administration.
Other potential areas of investigation include allegations concerning Starlink satellite access in Ukraine, reported pressure involving a Federal Aviation Administration contract with Verizon, and the federal spending cuts Musk oversaw during his time at DOGE.
Those matters remain potential subjects of congressional scrutiny, not established findings of misconduct.
Trump’s willingness to discuss pardons nevertheless introduces another complication into the increasingly contentious battle over congressional oversight.
With the November 3 midterm elections approaching, the president is preparing for the possibility that Democrats will gain new investigative powers.
But Trump is signaling that such a development would not leave his political allies without protection.
Whether he ultimately follows through with any preemptive pardons remains uncertain.
For now, the president has placed the possibility firmly on the table, setting up another potential confrontation between the White House and congressional Democrats if the balance of power changes after Election Day.
