In an address at the headquarters of the Department of Justice on Friday, President Donald Trump defended his allies, condemned his critics, and threatened political opponents with imprisonment,
Speaking inside the very agency that was prosecuting him on multiple criminal charges just months ago, Trump praised his supporters while lashing out at officials involved in his legal battles.
During the speech, Trump lauded U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon, who played a pivotal role in dismissing his classified documents case, calling her a “brilliant” judge. Meanwhile, he harshly criticized those who had spoken against her, referring to them as “horrible human beings.”
“It’s totally illegal what they do. I just hope you can all watch for it, but it’s totally illegal, and it was so unfair what they were doing to her,” Trump said.
“What a difference a rigged and crooked election had on our country, when you think about it. And the people who did this to us should go to jail. They should go to jail,” Trump declared.
Trump has repeatedly pushed unproven conspiracy theories about election fraud in 2020, despite numerous court rulings and bipartisan election officials confirming the legitimacy of the results.
Trump didn’t stop at attacking election officials. He took direct aim at the Department of Justice itself, accusing the agency of corruption under previous administrations.
“Our predecessors turned this Department of Justice into the department of injustice,” Trump said. “…insist upon and demand full and complete accountability for the wrongs and abuses that have occurred.”
Trump’s latest comments mirror past statements in which he has openly called for prosecuting political rivals, including President Joe Biden, former officials in his administration, and critics within the Republican Party.
His use of government institutions to threaten retribution comes at a time of heightened political division, as he continues to position himself as a victim of a politically motivated legal system—despite facing dozens of felony charges across multiple cases.
Trump also condemned officials involved in the military’s withdrawal from Afghanistan, using it as another example of what he called “injustice” within the U.S. government.
“The people who did this to us should go to jail,” he declared.
