The Wall Street Journal editorial board has issued a stark warning about President Donald Trump’s second-term approach, suggesting his focus on vengeance could damage the Republican Party and exceed their worst expectations about his return to office.
The newspaper’s conservative editorial board argued that vengeance has become the primary driving force behind Trump’s second-term agenda, describing this development as increasingly clear and concerning. The board expressed particular alarm over what they characterized as an escalation in vindictive actions targeting former allies turned critics.
The editorial focused heavily on the FBI raid conducted on Friday, August 22, 2025, at the home of John Bolton, Trump’s former national security adviser who served from 2018 to 2019 before becoming an outspoken critic of the president. The Wall Street Journal characterized this action as representing an ominous turn in Trump’s campaign for vengeance.
The editorial board indicated that the raid appeared vindictive in nature, suggesting Trump may view the investigative process itself as punishment regardless of whether criminal charges ultimately result. They also speculated that the president might hope such actions will silence Bolton and other critics who have spoken out against his administration.
The Journal’s criticism extended beyond the Bolton raid to broader concerns about presidential power abuse. The editorial board concluded that “the real offender here is a President who seems to think he can use the powers of his office to run vendettas.” This represents a significant critique from a traditionally conservative publication that has supported Republican candidates historically.
The newspaper’s editorial board acknowledged they had previously warned about the risks associated with a second Trump term during the campaign period. However, they indicated the reality has surpassed their concerns, stating the situation is turning out to be worse than they had imagined when making their initial predictions about potential problems.
This criticism comes amid a broader pattern of tensions between the Trump administration and media outlets, including the Journal itself. In July 2025, the White House removed a Wall Street Journal reporter from the press pool for Trump’s trip to Scotland over the paper’s reporting on an alleged letter to Jeffrey Epstein.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt announced on July 21, 2025, that due to what she called the paper’s fake and defamatory conduct, the Wall Street Journal would not participate in the press pool for Trump’s July 25-29 Scotland trip. The decision came after the Journal published a story claiming Trump had signed a birthday letter to Epstein in the early 2000s, which included a drawing of a nude woman.
Trump filed a libel lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal on July 18, 2025, seeking at least $20 billion in damages over the Epstein story. The president denied the report’s accuracy, calling the alleged letter fake, though the Journal stood by its reporting.
The White House Correspondents’ Association criticized the administration’s decision to exclude the Journal reporter, with President Weijia Jiang describing the action as deeply troubling and a violation of First Amendment principles. The association argued that government retaliation against news outlets based on coverage content should concern anyone who values free speech and independent media.
This pattern of media relations represents part of what the Journal’s editorial board views as problematic behavior that could have broader implications for the Republican Party. The newspaper’s conservative editorial stance gives additional weight to their criticism, as it comes from within traditionally supportive media circles rather than from typically opposing voices.
The editorial board’s warning suggests growing concern among some conservative voices about the long-term political consequences of Trump’s approach to governance and his treatment of critics, both within and outside the party structure.