Trump calls for DOJ probe of alleged Democratic threats
President Donald Trump said he ordered the Justice Department to investigate alleged Democratic threats against Republicans, including Sen. Elissa Slotkin.
At a glance
- President Trump said he ordered the Justice Department to probe alleged Democratic threats against Republicans.
- Trump cited Sen. Elissa Slotkin and her past comments about young people and the Trump administration.
- The source reported the White House and Slotkin did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
President Donald Trump said on Saturday that he was ordering the Justice Department to investigate Democratic leaders he described as threatening Republican officials, donors and supporters, including Democratic Sen. Elissa Slotkin of Michigan. He made the announcement in a Truth Social post.
He said the alleged threats were criminal conduct and called them extortion at the highest level, according to the source. Trump said he was ordering the Justice Department to look into the matter immediately. He did not identify the alleged communications or provide evidence of criminal conduct, the source said.
Trump also claimed that Slotkin was planning to go after young people who believe in Republican values. He appeared to reference a University of Chicago speech Slotkin gave on Oct. 13, in which she said she wanted younger people to consider whether working for the Trump administration was a good idea and to send a deterrence message.
The source said Slotkin has alleged that she, her family and her staff faced physical and legal intimidation after a Nov. 2025 video in which Slotkin and other Democratic leaders called on the U.S. military to refuse illegal orders following airstrikes targeting boats in the Caribbean.
On Nov. 20, Trump called the video treason and said an example must be set. The FBI contacted lawmakers, including Slotkin, days later, the source said. In February, Slotkin declined to sit for an interview the Justice Department requested about the video, and she said intimidation was the point. A federal grand jury later declined to indict the video participants, the source said.
Now Trump alleges Democrats are threatening legal intimidation against Republican leaders and supporters. He wrote in a Truth Social post that Republicans should get smart, fast and that threatening letters had been sent to many people, all innocent, from Democrat political leaders, according to the source.
The White House and Slotkin did not immediately respond to a request for comment, the source said.
Source: CNBC.
Questions and answers
- What did Trump say he was doing about the alleged Democratic threats?
- President Trump said he ordered the Justice Department to investigate Democratic leaders he described as threatening Republican officials, donors and supporters. He did not identify the alleged communications or provide evidence of criminal conduct, the source said.
- What did Sen. Elissa Slotkin do regarding the investigation?
- Slotkin alleged she and her family and staff faced intimidation after a November 2025 video. In February, she declined to interview with the Justice Department, and a federal grand jury later declined to indict the video participants, the source said.
- When did Trump announce the Justice Department probe?
- Trump announced the probe in a Truth Social post on Saturday, according to the source. He said he was ordering the Justice Department to look into the alleged criminal conduct immediately.
