Trump slams Eric Swalwell with brutal three-word response
April 16, 2026
Trump was asked about the five women who have come forward and accused the ex-congressman of sexual assault and rape.
In a pointed reaction to the political downfall of one of his most consistent adversaries, former President Donald Trump commented on the resignation of former Representative Eric Swalwell. In an interview on April 16, Trump characterized the former California congressman as a "bad guy," adding, "He's always been a bad guy, he's a corrupt politician, and everyone knows it." The remarks follow Swalwell's abrupt departure from both Congress and the California gubernatorial race amid a series of sexual misconduct allegations, which he has denied.
The terse statement from the former president is the latest chapter in a long and contentious history between the two political rivals. Swalwell, a Democrat, rose to national prominence in part through his vocal criticism of Trump. He served as a House impeachment manager during the second impeachment trial of the former president in 2021 and was involved in a civil lawsuit against Trump related to the events of January 6, 2021. The feud was not one-sided, with Trump often singling out Swalwell for criticism, including over a past connection to an individual suspected of being a Chinese intelligence operative.
Swalwell's political career unraveled quickly in recent weeks. Once considered a leading Democratic candidate for governor of California, he suspended his campaign and then announced his resignation from his House seat. The announcements came after multiple women, including a former staffer, accused him of sexual assault and other forms of sexual misconduct. Swalwell has vehemently denied the allegations, and his attorney has stated they are part of a "calculated and transparent political hit job." Local law enforcement agencies in Manhattan and Los Angeles have reportedly opened investigations into the claims.
The background of their conflict includes numerous public clashes. Swalwell was an outspoken participant in investigations against Trump and used his platform on the House Intelligence and Judiciary committees to pursue allegations against the then-president. More recently, in March 2026, Swalwell accused President Trump and his allies of weaponizing the FBI to damage his gubernatorial campaign by threatening to release files from a decade-old investigation. For his part, Trump saw Swalwell's troubles as vindication, reposting articles about the allegations on his social media platform before making his direct comments.
With Swalwell's exit, the political landscape in California has been significantly altered, leaving a wide-open field in the race for governor. For Trump, the situation provides an opportunity to claim victory over a prominent critic who now faces multiple investigations and the end of his political career. Trump's brief, dismissive response serves to frame Swalwell's downfall not as a tragedy, but as an inevitability for someone he deemed a "bad guy" from the start. Swalwell, meanwhile, maintains his innocence and vows to fight what he calls false and fabricated accusations.
Source: nypost