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In an interview with TIME, President Donald Trump discussed the possibility of pardoning his family members and administration officials if Democrats win control of Congress in upcoming midterms. Democrats have indicated they would investigate Trump's Cabinet and family should they gain power; current predictions give Democrats a 91 percent chance of winning the House and a 62 percent chance of taking the Senate. Trump referenced former President Joe Biden’s pardons as justification for his own potential actions, emphasizing his readiness to retaliate against any perceived persecution by Democrats.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-01,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
US President Donald Trump met with Chinese President Xi Jinping, where Xi pressed Trump to adopt Beijing's stance against Taiwan independence, which Taiwan rejected outright. Meanwhile, Taiwan is crucial for global tech and economy due to its leading semiconductor production; TSMC alone produces the majority of advanced chips that power smartphones, AI systems, and more. As Stanford Hoover fellow Eyck Freymann noted, economic disruption from a conflict over Taiwan would be severe.
In unrelated developments, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian met with US media at the UN General Assembly, where he denied Iran's nuclear ambitions while offering to dilute its enriched uranium and allow inspections under international law. He also blamed Washington for ongoing conflicts in the Middle East. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) estimates that Iran has over 440 kilograms of uranium enriched up to 60%, raising concerns despite Pezeshkian's denials.
Taiwan's representative, Ambassador Alexander Yui, clarified during an interview on CBS’s "Face the Nation" that while Taiwan was discussed between Trump and Xi, it wasn't a major focus. He emphasized there has been no change in US policy towards Taiwan amid recent tensions with China.
Written for “Taiwan Iran Us Relations Midterms” on 2026-10-04,
grounded in this article and the 386 other(s) covering the same event.
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Donald Trump has hinted that Republicans may face a midterm disaster, stating he would pardon allies while in office to prevent Democrats from going after them on Capitol Hill.
'You mentioned the Democrats will come after you if they win,' the president was asked by TIME.
uncertain
president → sign → TIME
'Are you considering pardoning members of your administration prior to the end of your term?
asserted
you → consider → term
'
'Yeah, sure I'd do that,' Trump vowed.
asserted
Trump → do → that
'Well, Sleepy Joe Biden, he gave pardons to everyone,' he added, referring to his Democratic predecessor.
asserted
he → give → predecessor
Democrats on Capitol Hill have been plotting investigations into the president, his family, Cabinet and closest aides, presuming they win the midterms in November.
asserted
they → plot → November
As of Thursday morning, Democrats had a 91 percent chance of winning the House of Representatives and a 62 percent chance of taking the Senate, according to prediction market Kalshi data.
uncertain
Democrats → have → data
But the president also said he's ready to take the fight to the Democrats if they persecute him: 'They'll probably go after me and I'll go after them.'
asserted
I → say → them
The top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, Robert Garcia, who would get subpoena power next year should they win the midterms, told Politico the ideal investigative targets would be 'the president’s sons and the president and the family.'
asserted
targets → get → Politico
President Donald Trump told TIME in an interview that he would offer pardons to members of his family and staff in response to Democratic-led investigations should the GOP lose the midterms this year
Democratic lawmakers have publicly stated they want to probe members of Trump's Cabinet and family should they win, which is looking increasingly likely
Trump noted how former President Joe Biden similarly pardoned US officials and members of his family, including his son Hunter Biden
He also wants to hear directly from many of the president's top staff.
White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, former AI and Crypto Czar David Sacks, Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner
asserted
He → tell → Staff
Democrats have expressed interest in probing federal deals with companies linked to Trump family members, the businesses of Witkoff and Kushner as they negotiate global peace deals while not officially government employees and Trump's multi-billion-dollar crypto enterprises.
asserted
they → express → deals
The president balked at the suggestion that he should not offer pardons to potentially imperiled friends and family.
asserted
he → balk → friends
'Sleepy Joe gave pardons to everybody.
asserted
Joe → give → everybody
He gave them to Fauci ...
asserted
He → give → Fauci
But you mean I'm not allowed to give them, but Sleepy Joe's allowed to give them?' he told TIME.
asserted
he → mean → TIME
Biden did indeed offer pardons to a wide array of officials and family members as his term wound down in 2024 and 2025.
asserted
term → offer → 2024
Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner (center) and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff (left) are of special interest to Democrats plotting potential probes for next year
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth may be dragged before Democratic investigators next year over the Iran war and US stockpiles should Trump and the GOP lose the midterms
When TIME asked him plainly whether he thinks Republicans can win the midterms, Trump said they will, as long as he is front and center.
uncertain
he → plot → midterms
'I think we'll do okay if I campaign, and I intend to.
asserted
I → think → ?
If I campaign…you don't give me enough credit.
asserted
you → campaign → credit
When I campaign, I give people a lot.'
asserted
I → campaign → lot
The president is traveling to Oklahoma on Thursday for a campaign rally and is expected to travel on Friday to Alabama for another stop.
asserted
president → travel → stop
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