President Donald Trump vowed to protect Elon Musk and said he would consider preemptively pardoning the world's richest man and other White House aides as Democrats prepare for investigations if they take control of the House of Representatives. "It's talk, but if it is talk, we'll have to protect them," Trump said in a podcast interview with the New York Post when asked about the potential for House Democrats to arrest Musk and seize his assets if they gain power. Trump said he would issue preemptive pardons to Musk, a close ally, and other potential targets of Democratic investigations if he believes it is necessary to protect them, even if they've not been formally charged with any crimes.