The era of vengeance has begun.

Throughout his campaign, President-elect Donald Trump indicated a strong willingness to target those he views as barriers to his political comeback. With his recent victory, numerous entities—ranging from political rivals to tech companies and the media—are increasingly worried that he might act on these threats.

When announcing his candidacy in 2023, Trump proclaimed, “I am your warrior. I am your justice. For those wronged and betrayed, I am your retribution.”

Trump referred to his adversaries as “bad people” during an interview with Fox News last month.

“They are, to me, the enemy from within,” he stated.

Political Opposition

Trump has hinted at taking legal action against a variety of political figures, including President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, and former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, throughout his campaign.

During an Arizona interview with Tucker Carlson last week, Trump singled out former Republican U.S. Representative Liz Cheney for facing potential backlash.

“She’s a radical war hawk. Let’s put her with a rifle standing there with nine barrels shooting at her, OK?” Trump suggested. “Let’s see how she feels when the guns are trained on her face.”

Back in September 2023, Trump took to Truth Social to label Mark Milley, his former Joint Chiefs chairman, a “Woke train wreck,” claiming that his actions following the January 6 incident were so severe that they would have warranted execution in earlier times.

Judicial System

As legal challenges mounted against Trump following the 2020 election, so did his aggressive remarks towards the prosecutors and judges involved.

Currently, in Georgia, the election racketeering case led by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis against Trump and 18 other individuals remains embroiled in controversy and judicial disputes with no trial date set, especially since four co-defendants have already entered guilty pleas.

Trump and his team have continually attempted to undermine Willis, even requesting her removal from the case, alleging an improper romantic link with a special prosecutor assigned to it.

Last month, Trump claimed on a right-leaning radio show that Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith, who is pursuing federal charges against him, deserves deportation.

“We should throw Jack Smith out with the mentally deranged people,” he said, suggesting Smith should be removed from the country.

Public Sentiment

From the onset, Trump has displayed a clear disdain for the media, labeling reports as “fake news,” ridiculing journalists, and delegitimizing news organizations that he feels present false or unfavorable coverage.

Just days prior to the election, Trump expressed frustration about the protective glass around him during a speech in Pennsylvania, stating, “To get to me, someone would need to shoot through the fake news, which doesn’t bother me too much.”

Earlier in the same event, he remarked, “The media is incredibly bad, it’s hard to believe.”

Throughout his rallies, Trump frequently addresses media criticism, encouraging his supporters to boo at the mention of various news outlets.

“ABC, ABC fake news, CBS, ABC, NBC,” he declared. “These are truly corrupt individuals.”

Trump has also directed threats toward election officials, further casting doubt on the legitimacy of the 2020 election, which he lost to Biden.

“WHEN I WIN, those who cheated will face the maximum legal consequences, which could lead to lengthy prison sentences to prevent this kind of injustice from happening again,” Trump shared on Truth Social in September.

He continued, “Be aware that this legal scrutiny will also apply to lawyers, political operatives, donors, illegal voters, and corrupt election officials. Everyone involved in any dishonorable actions will be pursued, caught, and prosecuted like never before in this country.”