Susan Rice warns of 'accountability agenda' against corporations when Democrats return to power

Rice, who worked in the Obama and Biden administrations, claimed the corporations and other entities like universities acted in a “very short-term self-interest” when deciding to work with the administration in certain capacities.

Published: February 20, 2026 7:52pm

Former Democratic Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice warned corporations Thursday who have "taken a knee" to President Donald Trump and his administration that there would be repercussions when her party returns to power. 

The comment comes after The Late Show host Stephen Colbert accused CBS News this week of bowing to Trump by allegedly blocking the host from airing an interview with Texas state Rep. James Talarico, a Democrat who is running for the U.S. Senate. CBS has denied blocking the interview, which was posted to YouTube instead. 

Rice insisted an "accountability agenda" was coming for the people and corporations who worked with the Trump administration if Democrats win back the majority in the House or Senate this November.

“If these corporations think that the Democrats, when they come back in power, are going to play by the old rules, and, you know, say, ‘Oh, never mind. We’ll forgive you for all the people you fired, all the policies and principles you’ve violated, all, you know, the laws you’ve skirted.’ I think they’ve got another think coming,” she told former U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara.

Rice, who worked in the Obama and Biden administrations, claimed the corporations and other entities like universities acted in a “very short-term self-interest” when deciding to work with the administration in certain capacities. 

“Companies are already starting to hear they better preserve their documents," she said. "They better be ready for subpoenas. If they’ve done something wrong, they’ll be held accountable, and if they haven’t broken the law, good for them.

“This is not going to be an instance of, you know, forgive and forget," she continued. "The damage that these people are doing is too severe to the American people and to our national interest."

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