Trump says he'd issue preemptive pardons for his staff if Democrats take Congress: 'I did it for J6'

President Trump said he would issue preemptive pardons to people who worked in his administration if Democrats win Congress on Tuesday and try to prosecute them. "I would if I needed to. Sure," he told the New York Post's Miranda Devine on the "Pod Force One" podcast published Monday. Asked if that covered everyone who worked for him: "I'd do it. I did it for J6," referring to the roughly 1,500 Jan. 6 defendants he pardoned on his first day back in office. He pointed to Joe Biden's last-day pardons of Anthony Fauci, Mark Milley, the Jan. 6 committee and Biden family members: "That's what Biden did."

Trump also said he would protect Elon Musk if Democrats go after the SpaceX and Tesla CEO. "It won't happen. It's talk. But if it is talk, we'll have to protect them," he said, Axios reports. If Democrats win both chambers, Trump said, "I guess I'll become Mr. Veto."

He again called the polls showing Democratic gains "rigged," saying he bases his optimism on rally crowds.