Washington (United States) (AFP) - US President Donald Trump pledged on Sunday to make a strong return to the American political arena, with the Democrats threatening to use the parliamentary majority they gained to open investigations into the “corruption” of his administration during the first two years of his second term.

Published on: 08/11/2026 - 20:53

The Democrats, who will control both chambers of Congress from next January after seizing the majority in them from the Republicans as a result of the midterm elections on Tuesday, soon announced their intention to open investigations targeting the president, his family, and senior officials in his administration.

However, the Republican president wrote on his social platform, Truth Social, on Sunday, “America has taken a giant step backward in history due to the results of the recent elections,” adding, “But do not worry, we will return, bigger and stronger than ever!”

Trump instructed his administration's Ministry of Justice to take action in the face of the threat of officials of the upcoming Democratic majority to initiate parliamentary investigation procedures into those close to him, most notably on charges of corruption. The president believed that this approach of his opponents involved "blackmail" attempts.

"Trump cartel"

US Attorney General Todd Blanche confirmed in statements he made on Sunday to CNN and Fox News that his department would defend members of the Trump administration if the new Democratic majority in Congress targeted them with investigations or accountability measures.

He added that if Stephen Miller, who is considered the architect of the tough policy on immigrants and was recently appointed White House chief of staff, was targeted, the Justice Department would be present to defend him. He added, "If there is corruption within the government, this Ministry of Justice will prosecute those responsible."

However, in his comment on the accusations directed against those close to Trump, he considered that “what the Democrats call corruption is not corruption, but rather an American success story.”

On the other hand, Democratic Representative Robert Garcia, a member of the House Oversight and Investigations Committee, accused the Minister of Justice of acting as the president's personal lawyer.

Garcia responded to Blanche on CNN, noting that “all he wants is to protect Donald Trump, his ministers, and his administration officials,” stressing that “his mission is not that.”

Garcia, who may take over as chairman of the House Investigations Committee starting in January, described the Trump family as "the most corrupt family ever to occupy the Oval Office."

He added, "Republicans are using their entire arsenal, and this is what we Democrats must do... We must fight and act offensively."

As for the head of the Democratic bloc in the House of Representatives, Hakeem Jeffries, who is nominated to assume the presidency of the House in January, he also criticized on Sunday the “unprecedented corruption practiced by the Trump cartel against the American people.”

He said on CNN, "Any people who deceived or robbed Americans must be held accountable in accordance with the constitutional role assigned to Congress, as a counter-authority to the unchecked executive authority."

- Hegseth in the crosshairs -

It is possible that at the forefront of those that the Democrats intend to target are Todd Blanche and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, who has been the focus of criticism, even from the core of the Republican team, because of his unconditional support for the US-Israeli war on Iran.

Hakeem Jeffries accused the Defense Minister of "abusing his powers and endangering our national security," criticizing his role in Iran's "irresponsible and costly war" that led to a "significant increase in prices" in the United States and made it "less safe."

He stressed the need for “Pete Hegseth to leave,” stressing that he would unreservedly support any possible parliamentary investigations against the minister.

In another indication of Donald Trump's offensive tendencies, he announced on Saturday that he had offered the position of spokesman for the executive branch to Dana White, one of his close associates who runs the leading UFC mixed martial arts tournament.

© 2026 AFP

The content you want to browse is no longer in service or is currently unavailable.