We can’t just ‘move on’: Democrats must hold Trump accountable | Jan-Werner Müller

Jan-Werner Müller argues that after their election victory, Democrats should hold Donald Trump and his allies accountable rather than prioritise unity or legislation alone. He says allowing alleged wrongdoing to go unanswered would perpetuate a culture of political impunity, encouraging future leaders to believe that power brings protection.

The article points to past episodes in which senior figures escaped lasting consequences, and warns that Trump’s reliance on loyalty and expected pardons could repeat that pattern. Müller proposes compelling administration officials and allies such as Jared Kushner and Elon Musk to testify under oath, including about Musk’s role in the 2025 Doge initiative, data and links between his companies and the state. He acknowledges that court battles take time and that direct legal consequences may be unlikely, but argues visible accountability matters both in the US and internationally.