President Trump Vows to Hold Investigators Accountable at Justice Department Speech
On Friday, U.S. President Donald Trump delivered a speech at the Justice Department, asserting his commitment to holding those responsible for investigating him accountable.
“Our predecessors transformed this Justice Department into the Department of Injustice. Today, I stand before you to declare that those days are over—and they will never return,” President Trump stated.
During his time out of office, the department indicted Trump twice—once for allegedly holding classified documents at his Florida estate, and again for attempting to overturn the 2020 presidential election. Both cases were dismissed following Trump’s victory in November. The Justice Department cited its policy of not prosecuting a sitting president as the reason for dropping the charges.
“Now, as the highest-ranking law enforcement official in our nation, I will demand full accountability for the violations and abuses that have occurred,” Trump said. “The American people have given us a mandate—a mandate that few thought was possible.”
The current administration has taken actions against the previous investigations, firing prosecutors involved in Trump-related cases during President Biden’s tenure and reviewing the work of FBI agents who investigated supporters involved in the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot.
Democratic Representative Jamie Raskin, House Judiciary Committee leader, criticized Trump’s speech, describing it as “a shocking violation of the traditional boundaries between independent criminal law enforcement and presidential political powers.” Speaking outside the Justice Department shortly after Trump’s address, Raskin remarked, “No other president in American history has publicly announced from within the Justice Department an agenda of criminal investigations and punishments against political opponents.”
Trump has long been critical of the Justice Department and FBI, appointing political allies to leadership roles within both agencies. Notably, FBI Director Kash Patel and Attorney General Pam Bondi attended the event.
Ms. Bondi, in her opening remarks, expressed her support for Trump, stating, “We all work for the greatest president in the history of our country… He will never stop fighting for us, and we will never stop fighting for him and for our nation.”
During his speech, Trump pledged “historic reforms” for the agencies, asserting that “under the leadership of the Trump administration, the Department of Justice and the FBI will once again become the leading agencies fighting crime worldwide.”
The event featured familiar elements, including music playing as Trump entered the Justice Department’s main lobby. His speech touched on key themes from his campaign, such as border security and combating violent crime.
Commenting on crime rates, Trump claimed that murders, property crimes, and robberies increased during the Biden administration. “My highest mission as President is to end this lawlessness and make America safe again,” he said. “That’s why we’re here—to protect Americans and ensure safety for everyone in our country.”
