President Trump has every right to go after those who spent years trying to take him down—often through what he and his supporters see as illegal means. The bogus charges, ruinous fines, and political targeting by the Biden Justice Department and New York Attorney General Letitia James, who campaigned on a promise to “get Trump,” left deep wounds. He deserves a chance to strike back.
But this so-called “revenge tour,” as critics label it, needs to be executed with precision. If not, it could backfire and undermine the very accountability it aims to deliver.
This past week alone, the Justice Department and the White House set their sights on a motley crew: former FBI Director James Comey, late-night host Jimmy Kimmel, ex-Fauci adviser David Morens, and Somali welfare scammers in Minneapolis. Some of these targets are legitimate; others look like distractions that could sap political capital.
Going after Comey for a cryptic social media post about seashells arranged to read “86 47”—which some interpreted as a call to assassinate Trump—seems like a weak case. Comey, a man I consider dishonest and self-serving, has denied knowing the meaning. Proving intent will be nearly impossible. If he walks, the right will seethe, watching yet another enemy escape justice while Hillary Clinton destroyed government communications and Hunter Biden evaded taxes for years. Powell's defiance at the Fed adds to the list of frustrations.
Attacking Kimmel is equally pointless. Trump and Melania are demanding ABC fire the comedian for calling her an “expectant widow” after an assassination attempt. But this only boosts his ratings among Trump-hating viewers. Free speech is a core conservative value; letting Kimmel make a fool of himself is better than elevating him. Trump's own jokes about bulletproof vests show a better way to handle such provocations.
On the other hand, targeting David Morens is a brilliant and overdue move. As a senior adviser to Dr. Anthony Fauci, Morens allegedly conspired to protect funding for EcoHealth Alliance, which financed dangerous gain-of-function research at the Wuhan Institute of Virology. He coached the group's head, Dr. Peter Daszak, to evade FOIA requests. This is part of a broader COVID cover-up that cost millions of lives. Fauci, who received a preemptive autopen pardon from Joe Biden, may still face charges if Trump's team successfully challenges the pardon's validity.
The COVID disaster—Chinese cover-ups, suppression of debate, and authoritarian directives from federal officials—was one of the worst episodes in modern American history. Children lost years of learning because Fauci and teachers unions pushed school closures without medical proof. Accountability for that is essential. Energy independence and other priorities shouldn't distract from this pursuit.
As for the Minneapolis welfare fraudsters, they allegedly stole billions meant for the needy. This is a national scandal: hundreds of billions in welfare fraud every year, even acknowledged by the Biden administration. Vice President JD Vance has been appointed “fraud czar” to tackle it. Exposing how blue states mismanage taxpayer money is good politics and good policy.
Trump's retribution campaign has hits and misses. To succeed, it must focus on the worst actors—like those behind the COVID tragedy—and avoid petty vendettas that waste time and credibility.
