Donald Trump’s potential return to the White House isn’t just about new policies — it’s a mission to gut the entrenched bureaucracy in D.C. The longstanding network of career bureaucrats, lobbyists, and political insiders who’ve been cozy with power for decades are feeling the heat.
Trump’s message is loud and clear: he’s prepared to clean house. For every government official clinging to their job, the warning is simple — start packing.
But Trump’s strategy for 2024 isn’t limited to just faceless bureaucrats. At the center of his target list is special counsel Jack Smith, the epitome of what Trump sees as the “Deep State.” To Trump, Smith’s investigations symbolize a deep-seated political bias, and if Trump is back in office, he’s made no bones about putting an end to Smith’s involvement.
As he told Breitbart, if he retakes the Oval Office, “I would fire [Smith] within two seconds.” Smith’s future, in Trump’s view, isn’t up for negotiation. For Trump, Smith represents all that’s wrong with the Justice Department’s so-called “political witch hunts.”
Smith, appointed by AG Merrick Garland, has launched two high-profile cases against Trump, claiming everything from improper handling of classified files at Mar-a-Lago to attempting to overturn the 2020 election results. While one case was dismissed (pending appeal), the other tied to January 6 lingers in legal limbo. Trump has slammed Smith as “crooked” and a “scoundrel,” accusations echoed by many of his supporters.
This isn’t Trump’s first battle with a special counsel. During his presidency, he clashed with Robert Mueller’s Russia probe, though his attorneys then advised against firing Mueller. This time, however, Trump is ready to use his executive authority to push back directly on what he believes are politically motivated investigations.
The Harris campaign, meanwhile, has jumped on Smith’s probes, using them as fodder to paint Trump as a threat to democracy. Recent ads from Harris’s team prominently feature January 6 footage and headlines from Smith’s investigations, pushing the narrative that Trump is a danger to the nation’s principles. The message? Harris wants Americans to fear Trump’s return.
But rather than dissuading Trump’s base, this narrative only deepens their loyalty, solidifying Trump’s image as an outsider battling a rigged system.
Despite critics within the DOJ, Trump has found support from U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon, a Trump appointee, who recently dismissed one of Smith’s cases involving classified documents. Describing her as a “brave, brilliant judge,” Trump views Cannon’s decision as a rare win against a DOJ he believes is stacked against him.
Some speculate Congress may try to challenge Trump if he moves to dismiss Smith, but Trump is unfazed. He’s dismissed the notion, insisting there’s no appetite for impeachment over firing a special counsel. Trump has made it personal: reforming the DOJ would be his first priority in 2024, starting with removing Smith. And Trump’s supporters? They’re right there, backing him every step of the way.
