President-elect Donald Trump said Sunday on NBC's “Meet the Press” that he will not appoint a special counsel to “go after” former President Joe Biden once he takes office. .
Kristen Welker: Okay. Let's talk about a few you've chosen to fill out your administration. You have nominated Kash Patel to be the next FBI Director.
TRUMP: Yeah.
Welker: His book lists 60 people who are members of the so-called “deep state.” That includes Democratic politicians like Joe Biden and Hillary Clinton. They include former members of the Cabinet, from Bill Barr to Christopher Wray. You ran a campaign to destroy the deep state. Do you want Kash Patel to start investigating the people on that list?
TRUMP: No, I mean, he's going to do what he thinks is right. And I do—
Welker: Well, do you think that's correct?
TRUMP: — and I do —
Welker: Do you think that's correct, sir?
TRUMP: If they think someone has been dishonest or crooked or a corrupt politician, I think they probably have a duty to do that, but–
Welker: Are you going to instruct him to do that?
TRUMP: No, not at all. Not at all. We have two great people. Him and Pam. Pam Bondi was a rocket ship. She is very popular, very good, and very fair. And Kash Patel is very fair. I'll teach you. Kash thought it might be difficult. Because he has a strong conservative voice. And I don't know anyone who doesn't sing his praises. I was watching the other day, and Trey Gowdy is a moderate, very intelligent, very well-respected within the party, and he's Kash's biggest fan. He said, “This is the most misunderstood person in politics. He's great.'' I think they collaborated on some Russian hoax or something and Trey Gowdy became a fan. Trey, you know, Trey Gordy. Everybody respects him, and you know, like him, other people as well, I don't know of a single negative vote – that he would have a negative vote. I don't think so.
Welker: But do you expect Kash Patel to move forward with investigations into your political opponents?
TRUMP: No, I don't think so.
Welker: Would you like to see that happen?
TRUMP: If they were perverse, if they did something wrong, if they broke the law, then maybe. They followed me. You know, they came after me, but I didn't do anything wrong.
Welker: Well, let me ask you this. President Biden, you said you were going to appoint a real special counsel to go after Joe Biden. You said that in the middle of it –
Trump: Where did I say that?
Welker: — Campaign
Trump: Where?
Welker: You said this in Truth Social on June 12, 2023: “I will appoint a real special counsel to go after Joe Biden, the most corrupt president in American history.
TRUMP: Well, that part is true.
WELKER: — and the entire Biden crime family. ”Are you going to do that? Are you going after Joe Biden?
TRUMP: I really want this country to succeed. I don't want to go back to the past. I aim to make our country successful. Retribution comes through success. If we can succeed, if we can make this country successful, that will be my greatest achievement and a very great achievement. Please take it back. Our country is now infested with crime, and there are millions of people who shouldn't be here, who should be in prisons in other countries, who should be in mental hospitals. Drug lords have been thrown into our country and told never to return. I aim to make our country great. We want to lower the price. Because I won on two things other than borders and immigration. They talk a lot about immigration, and I spell it out all the way to the border, but I won on the border and on groceries. A very simple word, groceries. In much the same way – who uses this word? I started using the word groceries. When you buy apples, bacon, or eggs, the price doubles or triples in a short period of time. And I won the election on that basis. We're going to bring those prices down significantly.
