One of the most overlooked aspects of the 2024 election was just how confident Democrats were that they had it in the bag.
It wasn’t that long ago when the American left was all but certain Kamala Harris would be the next president. Her campaign was wrapped in the theme of “joy,” with cultural trends like “Brat Summer” being touted as proof she had won the pop culture war. On election day, breathless social media chatter claimed massive turnout in Philadelphia had “sealed the deal” for the then–vice president. None of it was true.
Between 2021 and 2024, Democrats acted as if Trump’s political career was over for good. They never imagined he’d return to power — and they governed accordingly. But then Trump won. And now, like a child shocked that a hot stove burns, they’re reeling at how he’s governing in light of their past actions.
In case there was any doubt that President Donald Trump and his administration are on what some call a “legal retribution tour,” the facts speak for themselves.
Trump has faced investigations throughout his political career — from the Russia probe, to his Ukraine impeachment, to the fallout from January 6, and post-presidency legal battles. Now, less than seven months into his second term, key figures from each of those episodes are facing legal scrutiny of their own. More than ten people who once targeted Trump are now targets themselves — not just accused, but formally investigated.
Trump’s team has also fired political adversaries and stripped them of security clearances. The pressure is clearly ratcheting up.
And yes — let’s not sugarcoat it — this is retribution. As one X post succinctly put it:
“You see, in life, when you do things, those things often produce specific repercussions. We call those ‘consequences.’ You don’t get to call a timeout from them the moment they arrive.”
Democrats seem to think they can set new political and legal standards, then revert to old norms when those rules backfire. But that’s not how it works.
Consider Texas redistricting. Over 50 Democratic legislators fled the state to block a Republican-drawn map that would eliminate five Democrat-held seats. Yet for decades, Democrats in Illinois, Maryland, California, New York, Massachusetts, and New Mexico have engaged in some of the most aggressive gerrymandering in the country. When Republicans finally decided to fight by the same rules, Democrats cried foul.
The same double standard applies to Trump’s accountability push. When Joe Biden’s DOJ and a special counsel pursued Trump on shaky legal grounds, the media framed it as “no one is above the law.” But when Trump uses the same mechanisms to investigate those responsible, suddenly it’s a “threat to democracy.”
The reality? Trump was never going to “let it go.” Voters saw what happened over the last decade, and many now see “retribution” not as a dirty word but as a necessary correction.
There was a time when firing FBI leaders or prosecuting political opponents was unthinkable. That time ended when Democrats tore up the old rulebook. As the saying goes:
“If you take a shot at the king, you’d best not miss.”
They missed. And in 2025, the consequences are here.
