President Donald Trump delivered an extraordinary speech at the US Justice Department on Friday, vowing to "expose" his enemies and bring "full and complete accountability" for what he called past abuses. The speech, mixing government policy with personal grievances, marked a striking moment of political influence inside an institution meant to remain impartial. “Our predecessors turned this Department of Justice into the Department of Injustice,” Trump declared. “But I stand before you today to declare that those days are over, and they are never coming back.” The event, held in the Justice Department’s ceremonial Great Hall, was unlike any previous presidential address there. Trump, referring to himself as the country’s “chief law enforcement officer” — a title usually reserved for the attorney general — said his administration would ensure those responsible for past investigations into him and his allies would face consequences. The event had the energy of a campaign rally. Upbeat music played before Trump’s entrance, and the crowd—composed of law enforcement officials, political allies, and FBI Director Kash Patel—cheered throughout. Large signs reading "Fighting Fentanyl in America" flanked the podium, and a cardboard box labeled "DEA evidence" was on display. Trump has long accused the Justice Department of being weaponised against him. In his speech, he condemned the investigations into his handling of classified documents and his role in the January 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol. He called the prosecutors who investigated him “scum” and dismissed the classified documents case as “bulls—-.” “We will expel the rogue actors and corrupt forces from our government. We will expose, very much expose, their egregious crimes and severe misconduct,” Trump said. “It’s going to be legendary”, AP reported. Since taking office again in January, Trump has moved quickly to reshape the Justice Department. He appointed close allies, including former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Patel, to top positions. Bondi, introducing Trump at the event, praised him, saying, “We all work for the greatest president in the history of our country. He will never stop fighting for us, and we will never stop fighting for him.” Under Trump’s direction, the Justice Department has fired employees who worked under special counsel Jack Smith, who led the cases against him. Officials also requested lists of FBI agents involved in investigating Trump’s supporters after January 6 and dismissed a criminal case against New York Mayor Eric Adams, claiming it hindered cooperation on immigration issues. Trump’s claim that the Justice Department had been “weaponised” against him under President Joe Biden did not acknowledge that investigations were also conducted into Biden’s handling of classified documents and his son Hunter Biden’s business dealings. During his first term, Trump repeatedly clashed with the Justice Department, pressuring officials to investigate his rivals and attempting to fire special counsel Robert Mueller, who led the Russia probe. Now, after a recent Supreme Court ruling reaffirmed presidential control over the Justice Department, Trump is making it clear that his approach will be even more aggressive. His speech signalled his firm grip over the department and his determination to reshape it in his own image, reinforcing a central theme of his presidency. (with inputs from AP)
