MSNBC host Rachel Maddow expressed serious concerns on Monday about the potential consequences should former President Donald Trump win a second term in the upcoming presidential election. During an interview for CNN’s Reliable Sources newsletter, senior media reporter Oliver Darcy questioned Maddow about her fears of being targeted by a second Trump administration, given her high-profile criticism of the former president.
Darcy highlighted that Trump and his allies have openly discussed using government power to retaliate against critics in both the media and politics, with some extremist supporters even suggesting imprisonment of fellow Americans. He pointed out that Maddow is one of Trump’s most notable critics on television and asked if she was worried about being a target.
Maddow responded with broader concerns for the country, stating, “I’m worried about the country broadly if we put someone in power who is openly avowing that he plans to build camps to hold millions of people, and to ‘root out’ what he’s described in subhuman terms as his ‘enemy from within.'” She emphasized the importance of historical context, suggesting that Trump is serious about his threats and that such rhetoric has dangerous precedents.
She warned against complacency, noting, “I think there’s a little bit of head-in-the-sand complacency that Trump only intends to go after individual people he has already singled out. Do you really think he plans to stop at well-known liberals?” Maddow also cautioned political figures who might feel safe by siding with Trump, referencing the precarious position of former Vice President Mike Pence as a cautionary example.
Maddow raised concerns about Trump’s potential use of the Insurrection Act to deploy the U.S. military against civilians and the establishment of camps, questioning whether these measures would be limited to migrants. “So, yes, I’m worried about me — but only as much as I’m worried about all of us,” she added.
In August, Maddow had claimed that if Trump were to win a second term, he could attempt to become “president for life.” She questioned the integrity of future elections under Trump’s leadership, especially if he views winning as his only way to avoid prison.
