Texas Rep. Jasmine Crockett accused the president of protecting loyalists no matter how serious their alleged crimes were.
One of President Donald Trump’s fiercest critics joins Joanna Coles daily beast podcast Discussing what she calls the “abusive relationship” felt by congressional Democrats and Republicans during Trump’s second administration.
“He does have a mob-like situation where people are going to come after you,” Crockett, 44, told Coles, describing what happens to those who oppose the president and why Republicans are “afraid” of being on his other side.
The congresswoman, who was sworn into Congress in 2023 and entered the U.S. Senate race in Texas in December 2025, has built a reputation on Capitol Hill for her anti-Trump speeches and frequent feuds with MAGA lawmakers. She insisted she wanted the American people to “stand up” to the president, whom she called a “bully.”
“Someone’s going to threaten you, and you have to be on guard,” Crockett told Coles about the consequences of speaking out against the president, adding that she makes sure to wear a bulletproof vest because she never knows when she’ll encounter a “big, big, big situation.”
Rep. Jasmine Crockett takes the stage to speak during the first day of the Democratic National Convention at the United Center on August 19, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois. /Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
Derided by Trump as a “low-IQ person,” Crockett, 79, has become an outspoken critic of the Trump administration’s release of Epstein documents. As a member of the House Judiciary and Oversight committees, she sent a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel demanding answers about Trump’s ties to deceased sex offenders and the Justice Department’s handling of records.
“We’re not trying to protect pedophiles. That’s the message we’re trying to send,” Crockett said when Coles asked Crockett to explain the release of the Epstein documents. The documents were supposed to be released under the law as part of the Epstein Documents Transparency Act passed by Congress and signed by Trump. The documents have not yet been made public by the required deadline.
“Now. The question is whether you’re close enough to the president that it doesn’t matter whether you’re a drug dealer, whether you’re a child rapist,” Crockett told Coles.
“If you’re close to him, then you have nothing to worry about. But if you’re on the opposite side of him, that’s when you become a bad person,” the congresswoman added.
Some Republicans have broken ranks with Trump over the Epstein dossier. /Heather Dill/Getty Images
Crockett told Coles that it was her understanding that the attorney general’s handling of the documents could lead to a lawsuit against Bundy. Crockett emphasized that the Epstein documents are not a political issue for survivors or Democrats.
While Trump has refused to release the documents and the Justice Department has defended his name, former president and first lady Bill and Hillary Clinton also declined to testify after being subpoenaed by Republicans on the House Oversight Committee.
Crockett appoints California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat
When Coles asked about the direction and leadership of the Democratic Party, Crockett admitted that she thinks Democrats are “overthinking” and that “whoever finds the best way to pivot is going to be the leader,” noting that California Gov. Gavin Newsom is someone who has a knack for timing his use of social media, where he often trolls the president.
“We live in a bold moment where we have a deranged, possibly mentally ill leader who is a great liar and has our Democrats and Republicans alike terrified,” Crockett said, adding that she had written and spoken to doctors about the president’s deteriorating mental and physical condition.
Trump’s hands have come under scrutiny recently for frequent bruises, which the White House attributes to taking aspirin and frequent handshakes. /Andrew Harnick/Getty Images
“Many medical professionals thought he was in very bad shape,” Crockett said.
The White House did not immediately respond to The Daily Beast’s request for comment.
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