Trump Mentions ‘Jail’ For J6 Committee as Biden Considers Pardons For Fauci, Cheney, Others: Report
In his first sit-down interview after winning the presidential election, Donald Trump told NBC News’ *Meet the Press* that he remains committed to pardoning individuals convicted in connection with the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot.
Trump also expressed his belief that members of the Democrat-led House committee investigating the riot should face legal consequences. When asked if he thought Liz Cheney should go to jail, Trump responded, “For what they did.”
However, Trump clarified that he would not direct the FBI or the attorney general to take action on the matter. Instead, he said, “they’ll have to look at that, but I’m not going to — I’m going to focus on drill, baby, drill. I’m going to look at everything. We’re going to look at individual cases.”
The president-elect also indicated he might try to end birthright citizenship through executive action. This policy grants automatic U.S. citizenship to children born on American soil to parents who are in the country illegally. He acknowledged that such a move would likely face legal challenges.
On the topic of mass deportation, Trump stated that while it would be a difficult process, it was necessary to enforce the country’s immigration laws. He expressed sympathy for those who have followed the legal immigration process and promised to make it easier for people to enter the U.S. legally if they pass the required tests. Trump also suggested he would work on a solution for “Dreamers” — individuals who were brought to the U.S. illegally as children.
When asked about his stance on investigating President Joe Biden, Trump emphasized his focus on national success rather than retribution. He stated that any action would be determined by his nominees for Attorney General and FBI Director, Pam Bondi and Kash Patel, if they are confirmed.
Trump also defended his call for mass tariffs, stating he was skeptical of economists who predicted higher costs for consumers. He pointed to the strong economy under his administration before the COVID-19 pandemic, during which he imposed tariffs on multiple countries, particularly China. While he acknowledged the potential for price increases, he underscored that the U.S. had collected substantial revenue from those tariffs, leading to a period of low inflation.
Not mentioned in the interview was the fact that the U.S. has imposed tariffs on various goods for decades, under both Republican and Democratic administrations, with President Joe Biden recently approving significant increases in tariffs on Chinese goods.
