Trump says he will issue "preventive pardons" to Musk and his staff "if necessary" should Democrats win Congress.

U.S. President Trump said he is willing to offer protective pardons to Elon Musk and his core staff if Democrats take control of Congress after the midterm elections. In an interview, Trump dismissed claims that Democrats would push to nationalize Musk's SpaceX (SPCX.US), but said he would step in to "protect" the billionaire entrepreneur and any staff targeted by congressional investigators, including Edward Coristine, who was involved in Musk's DOGE (Department of Government Efficiency) program to cut government spending. Trump confirmed this could mean preventive pardons if necessary. "I would certainly do it if necessary," he said on conservative commentator Miranda Devine's "Pod Force One" podcast. "I wouldn't hesitate." It is understood that former President Biden previously issued protective pardons to his son Hunter Biden and several government officials who could become targets of retaliation by a second Trump administration. Trump cited this precedent as the basis for his commitment to protect his staff. "Biden did it. He gave everybody pardons," Trump added, referring to pardons for those who assisted in investigating the January 6 U.S. Capitol attack. It is understood that Musk has spent hundreds of millions of dollars supporting Republicans in the midterm elections and said on X last Friday that maintaining the Republican majority in the Senate is key to preventing a "permanent one-party state" under Democratic rule.