Trump floats preemptive pardons for Musk and DOGE staff, protection promised against investigations that exist only as Democratic plans

Donald Trump says he is willing to pardon Elon Musk and his government-efficiency staff before any prosecutor has opened a case against them. Asked by host Miranda Devine on the 'Pod Force One' podcast about rumours that Musk faces investigation and the seizure of his assets, the president answered: 'It's talk. But if it is talk, we'll have to protect them.'

According to Axios, Trump is weighing pre-emptive pardons for his close aides and others around him, to keep them from prosecution for actions taken during the first two years of his term. Asked whether he would extend that protection beyond Musk if Democrats pursue an investigation, Trump said: 'I would if I needed to. Sure.' Then: 'I would not even think about it. I'd do it.'

The investigations the pardons would pre-empt are, so far, plans. Democrats on the House Oversight Committee are reportedly preparing to target Musk over his campaign contributions and his cost-cutting at the Department of Government Efficiency if the party takes Congress in Tuesday's election. Representative Greg Casar of Texas, a committee member, told Politico's Playbook newsletter that oversight should reach 'the corporations and ultra-rich people who have tried to corrupt our government' — 'and, of course, Elon Musk is on that list because it takes two to tango.'

Musk's political donations this cycle run past $445 million. Filings with the Federal Election Commission obtained by Bloomberg show $77 million moving into his America PAC in the first half of October alone, and at least $71 million going to Republicans in Senate races in Ohio, Michigan, Texas, Iowa and Maine. His PAC has spent $33.1 million on the Texas contest between Democrat James Talarico and Republican Ken Paxton.

Musk worked for Trump in the Department of Government Efficiency initiative — the work the Oversight Committee proposes to examine. Democrats would control that committee only if they take Congress on Tuesday, an election on which Musk has spent nearly half a billion dollars against them.

No case against Musk has been filed. The pardons under consideration would cover conduct no prosecutor has yet named.