The incoming Head of State, Donald J. Trump, feels he has been treated unjustly by various authoritative figures, journalists, and others. Mr. Trump has frequently declared that he would employ the extensive capabilities of his position to retaliate against public servants and representatives whom he accuses of treating him unfairly. During the course of several years, he has openly identified numerous individuals and outlined what he feels should be their appropriate repercussions. ‘To those who feel wronged and deceived, I am your vengeance,’ Trump declared to his followers in 2023.
Among those frequently at the receiving end of his displeasure are several top-ranking officials. Jack Smith, the Special Counsel of the Justice Department, has led two indictments of Trump related to meddling with elections and inappropriate handling of confidential papers. In response, Trump retorted in October 2024 that Smith should be ‘deemed mentally unstable and deported immediately.’
Letitia James, the Attorney General of New York State, led a lawsuit against Trump concerning the appraisal of his real estate assets, causing him to lose an extensive sum. Trump suggested in November 2023 that ‘James should face legal repercussions’ for her actions.
In the same case that cost Trump hundreds of millions of dollars, Justice Arthur F. Engoron of the New York State Supreme Court served as the overseeing judge. During a rally early in the year, Trump suggested that both James and Engoron should be seized and face due punishment.
Alvin L. Bragg, the District Attorney of Manhattan, spearheaded a prosecution against Trump leading to a felony conviction. Trump doubled down on this point by stating in March 2023 that ‘Bragg should face serious charges for his disruption of a presidential election.’
Fani T. Willis, the District Attorney of Fulton County, filed an indictment against Trump in Georgia over another case of election interference. Trump countered by stating in August 2023 that ‘Willis needs to answer for her actions and should be removed from her position.’
Liz Cheney, the Republican Vice-Chairman of the House Select Committee that investigated the January 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol, also faced Trump’s ire. Trump took to social media in March to say that Cheney ‘should face legal charges for her actions against the nation and serve time behind bars, along with all other members of the fallacious committee.’
Trump’s disdain extended to the entire January 6 committee, which included another Republican, Adam Kinzinger, and a team of seven Democrats. He described the committee to be ‘heading proceedings under false pretenses, tantamount to treason,’ on a written discourse in March 2023.
Another individual targeted by Trump was Gen. Mark A. Milley, the former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, whom Trump described as an ‘awake disaster.’ Trump accused Milley of treason for his communication with his Chinese equivalent during Trump’s controversial efforts to reverse the 2020 election results. In a chilling statement in September 2023, Trump warned that, in another era, such an offense ‘would have been punishable by execution.’
Michael D. Cohen, Trump’s erstwhile attorney, was also a target of his criticism. Cohen had confessed to silencing a woman claiming to have sexual relations with Trump during his initial term. The confession recorded during Trump’s tenure upset the prominent figure greatly, leading to open criticism of Cohen. This selective scrutiny is emblematic of a wider pattern of retaliation against perceived enemies.