Trump critics worry he'll target them for retribution

Trump has talked about getting even with those he says mistreated him, but he has also suggested that his revenge will simply be his success.

WASHINGTON — Olivia Troye, a former Trump administration official who denounced him in a speech at the Democratic convention in August, was boarding a plane recently when a passenger looked at her and said: “Your days are numbered.”

Not wanting to escalate a bad situation, she said nothing, but the troubling encounter is emblematic of the hostility she’s faced as a recognizable and vocal critic of Trump. Now, with Trump returning to the White House, she is beset by newfound fears that he, his appointees or supporters could try to punish her for speaking out.

“I’m worried that I’ll be targeted by him and a lot of people in his circle,” Troye said in an interview. “They very much know who I am. And I’m concerned for my family.”

She has plenty of company. For some who’ve run afoul of Trump, the election results have sparked fresh worries that he may enter office looking for retribution.

He’s been out of power for nearly four years, airing grievances over how he believes he’s been mistreated by law enforcement, but on Jan. 20 he’ll be sworn in with a panoply of governmental powers at his disposal. He’s made no secret of who he believes has wronged him, and as president, he could upend their lives through investigations, tax audits or courts-martial if he chose.

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/trump-critics-worry-ll-target-retribution-rcna179282

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