Americans who have run afoul of former President Donald Trump are making plans to flee the country should he be reelected and seek revenge, according to a new report.
NBC News spoke with more than a dozen people who’ve testified against Trump, written books decrying his policies, or fled his administration — and are now faced with his potential return to power.
“I’ve been saving money and making other arrangements,” said Stephanie Grisham, a former press secretary and vocal Trump critic. “It’s terrifying.”
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Rachel Vindman, a key witness in Trump’s first impeachment, also wants to save money so she can flee the country upon a Trump victory, NBC News reports.
Their fears of vengeance are rooted in Trump’s own words, the report notes.
NBC cites a recent Univision interview during which Trump suggested the “weaponization” of justice — his stump speech explanation for the four criminal and multiple civil court cases he faces — could be replicated.
“If I happen to be president and I see somebody who’s doing well and beating me very badly, I say, ‘Go down and indict them.’” Trump told Univision. “Mostly, they would be out of business.”
That’s the fear of multiple Republicans, government workers, and whistleblowers who have been represented by Mark Zaid, he told the news outlet.
Zaid reportedly fears Trump would turn government agencies against his clients.
“I know of many prominent ‘never Trump’ advocates, including many Republicans, who are considering their options to leave the country were Trump to win in November,” Zaid said.
“It would be foolish of me, and others similarly situated, not to be concerned of what a second, more emboldened, vindictive and lawless Trump administration would look like.”
