In a wide-ranging interview with Time magazine, Trump outlined his vision for a potential second term, including using the justice department and suggesting states could monitor pregnant women to enforce abortion laws.
The threat against the Biden family came during an interview with Eric Cortellessa of Time, where Trump discussed plans for what the magazine described as “an imperial presidency that would reshape America and its role in the world”.
Trump linked his threat to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate the Bidens if he is re-elected in November to the current case before the supreme court regarding his own presidential immunity.
When asked if he plans to pursue the Bidens in a second term, Trump replied, “It depends what happens with the supreme court.” He suggested that if the court does not grant him immunity from prosecution, then “Biden I am sure will be prosecuted for all of his crimes, because he’s committed many crimes”.
Despite Trump and his Republican supporters attempting to tie Biden to criminal activity involving his son Hunter Biden, no substantial evidence has been found. Trump previously threatened to appoint a special prosecutor if re-elected to investigate the Bidens.
Currently facing four active prosecutions, including one in New York related to hush-money payments to Stormy Daniels, Trump argued before the supreme court for broad immunity from prosecution for former presidents, including himself. While the justices seemed unlikely to grant full immunity, they indicated a willingness to consider some level of immunity for actions taken as part of official presidential duties.
Trump’s comments in the Time interview raise concerns about his authoritarian tendencies, suggesting he would use the justice department to retaliate against political rivals if granted a second term. Despite the violence at the Capitol on January 6, Trump also refused to commit to a peaceful transfer of power if he loses in November, citing concerns about election fairness.
Continuing to push false claims about the 2020 election being stolen, Trump indicated he would be unlikely to appoint anyone to his administration who believed Biden had legitimately won. This stance, along with his plans to wield executive power without regard for historical norms or boundaries, paints a picture of a second Trump presidency marked by authoritarian tendencies.
His immigration policies in a potential second term include mass deportations of millions of undocumented individuals, with the use of the military and national guard to secure the border and carry out large-scale deportations. He also suggested the possibility of building new migrant detention camps to accommodate those targeted for removal, although he expects most deportations to occur immediately.
