President Donald Trump was in the Oval Office Wednesday to celebrate the rollout of Trump Accounts. Business leaders, lawmakers and children surrounded him as he touted billions of dollars committed to the new investment program.
Trump, of course, went off script — using the event to make another sweeping claim about his power. The claim involved Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden. He said he could have taken severe action against all three but chose not to. He did not want to disrespect the presidency.
“I could’ve done very bad things to Hillary Clinton. I could’ve done very very bad things to Joe Biden. I could’ve done very bad things to Barack Hussein Obama … I can do whatever I want, if I want,” Trump said.
His comments revived questions about his understanding of presidential power and impeachment, but online, some viewers appeared more interested in the background, where billionaire philanthropist Susan Dell stood alongside her husband, Michael Dell. The couple’s family has pledged billions of dollars to the Trump Accounts.
The family’s commitment to the program has made Susan Dell a central figure, even if that was not what drew attention to her Wednesday.
Online reactions quickly turned to Susan Dell’s appearance, with some commenters telling Halloween jokes and others questioning whether she was physically okay.
By the end of the event, Trump had spent much of his time selling the investment program. But the political message he delivered — and the person standing behind him — gave the internet something else to talk about.
One commenter wrote: “I pretty much never comment on people’s appearances, as I think it is shallow, below-the-belt type hits, most typically. But seriously, what is happening here?? Is this a real life scene from the movie They Live? Seriously what is wrong with this person? This is not normal.”
Another observer expressed worry: “Is she like…. good? I’m genuinely concerned.”
Back in the Oval Office, Brad Gerstner, CEO of Altimeter Capital, called the initiative an “extraordinary day for the country.” Gerstner was an early advocate of Trump Accounts.
He added, “I don’t think it’s an overstatement to say that this is the biggest transformation in the social contract and the social fabric of America for these kids since 1935, when Social Security was passed.”
The Dells became involved after Gerstner introduced the idea to them in 2021, according to Time. Michael Dell later said he showed Trump a short video about the proposal, which Trump immediately embraced it. Gerstner has said Trump then pushed to include the proposal in the One Big Beautiful Bill.
On Wednesday, the Dells had already funded 10 million accounts as part of their $6.25 billion commitment to provide $250 to 25 million children.
“We committed to children in America that we were going to contribute $6.25 billion — $250 to 25 million Trump Accounts for children in America,” Dell said. “I’m very pleased to let you know today that we have funded 10 million of those accounts, as of this morning. By the end of this week, we will have funded 25 million of those accounts.”
Trump touted the automatic enrollment of more than 60 million children. He said nearly 8 million accounts had been created since the program launched in July and that more than $4.5 billion had been deposited.
“This money is your child’s future,” Trump said.
Trump also said more than 70 companies had committed to contribute to the accounts, naming Uber, Intel, Nvidia and Steak ’n Shake. He presented the program as a way to expand stock ownership among young Americans.
“Now every member of the next generation will have an investment account and will benefit from our booming economy,” Trump said.
Under the automatic-enrollment policy, eligible children under 18 receive accounts that are ready to be claimed. However, enrollment does not give parents control of the accounts or automatically trigger the federal government’s $1,000 contribution. A parent or guardian must claim an account to manage it, accept contributions, and, for eligible children, receive the one-time government deposit.
The $1,000 contribution is available to U.S. citizen children born from Jan. 1, 2025, through Dec. 31, 2028, who have valid Social Security numbers. Parents can contribute up to $5,000 annually, while employers can contribute up to $2,500 a year without that amount counting as taxable income for the employee.
In the middle of the event, Trump — without warning — echoed comments he made over the weekend, when he said he could have impeached Hillary Clinton and Biden but decided it would have been inappropriate. The claim contained two basic errors: Trump could not personally impeach anyone because impeachment is a congressional process, and Clinton never served as president.
Trump has been impeached twice. The House impeached him in 2019 over allegations involving Ukraine and again in 2021 following the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. The Senate acquitted him in both cases.
The Constitution gives the House the power to impeach federal officials and the Senate the power to conduct impeachment trials. A president has no authority to initiate an impeachment against another president.
Trump said he could have done “very bad things” to Obama, Hillary Clinton and Biden. He offered no specific explanation of what action he believed he had the authority to take and why.
For some viewers, however, the policy announcement became secondary to Trump’s extraordinary claim. He claimed he has the power to exact retribution against his political enemies. That prompted some to compare the president to a mob boss.
One commenter summed up: “And he’s so proud to say all this, not even realizing how absolutely horrendous for a President to say.”
Another took aim at Trump’s claim that he had simply chosen restraint: “He’s got nothing on them. If he did, we would’ve known 4 years ago.”
