Trump’s Second Term Under Fire as WSJ Warns of ‘Personal Vengeance’ Agenda
The Wall Street Journal has issued a blistering editorial accusing President Donald Trump of weaponizing federal law enforcement to settle personal scores, marking what it calls an “ominous turn” in his second term. The criticism came after FBI agents raided the home of John Bolton, Trump’s former national security adviser and one of his most outspoken critics.
The editorial argues this is more than a simple investigation—it’s a signal that Trump’s presidency is increasingly defined by retribution rather than policy.
A Raid That Shook Washington
At dawn on Friday, FBI agents executed a search warrant at Bolton’s Bethesda, Maryland home as part of what officials described as a revived national security probe into classified documents. According to senior U.S. officials, the investigation had been dormant for years due to “political reasons” but was reopened under Trump’s handpicked FBI Director, Kash Patel.
Patel defended the move on X, writing:
“NO ONE is above the law… @FBI agents on mission.”
For many observers, the optics of raiding a former adviser—especially one who wrote a scathing memoir about Trump—were impossible to ignore.
The WSJ Editorial: ‘Presidential Id Unchained’
In its Friday editorial, the Wall Street Journal delivered a warning shot:
“Vengeance is a large part, maybe the largest part, of how Trump will define success in his second term.”
The piece argued that while Trump once promised voters his second term would focus on policy, recent actions suggest a different priority. With loyalists like Patel in key positions, the Journal said, “aides no longer serve as constraints but as enablers.”
The editorial added that the Bolton raid represents “the kind of gratuitous viciousness” critics feared would define Trump’s comeback.
A History of Bad Blood
John Bolton and Donald Trump have clashed for years. Bolton’s 2020 memoir, The Room Where It Happened, portrayed Trump as erratic and unfit for office—a characterization that infuriated the then-president. Though the book passed security clearance, Trump accused Bolton of profiting off classified information.
Friday’s raid reignited speculation that this personal grudge may have influenced the decision to revive an old investigation.
JD Vance and Kash Patel Defend the Move
Vice President JD Vance defended the raid during an appearance on NBC’s Meet the Press, saying it reflected “broad concern” that went beyond the Bolton memoir. Still, the WSJ editorial and several legal analysts warned the optics could erode public trust in federal law enforcement.
“This has the appearance of retribution, not oversight,” one legal expert told The Hill.
Pattern of Retaliation?
Critics point to other recent decisions as evidence of a broader pattern. The WSJ noted that Trump revoked protective details for Bolton and several other former officials, including Mike Pompeo, despite lingering threats from foreign adversaries like Iran.
The paper warned these moves send a dangerous message, likening them to Trump’s aggressive push to expand executive authority earlier this year.
What It Means for Trump—and for America
For Trump supporters, Friday’s raid is simply part of his long-promised mission to “drain the swamp” and hold former officials accountable. For his critics, it’s confirmation that Trump is governing with vengeance as his guiding principle.
The Journal’s editorial concluded:
“We said this was one of the risks of a second Trump term, and it’s turning out to be worse than we imagined.”
This latest controversy comes as Trump battles multiple legal challenges while maintaining a firm grip on his base. Recent polls show his approval among Republican voters remains above 80%, even as independent voters express growing concern about the use of federal power.
Key Takeaways:
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FBI raids Bolton’s home amid revived classified-documents probe.
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WSJ warns Trump’s presidency is becoming ‘vengeance-driven.’
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Allies like JD Vance and Kash Patel defend the move, calling it lawful and necessary.
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Critics fear the weaponization of law enforcement could destabilize public trust.
