he has made clear that he expects [this].

[Annabel Lee]

From today's online New York Times:

• "As a candidate, Mr. Trump promised to usher in an administration of retribution, and he has made clear that he expects the Justice Department to mete out punishment to his perceived enemies."

I find it interesting that the author didn't use "it" between "made" and "clear": "he has made it clear that he expects [this]." Do you think the omission of "it" works there? If so, is "made [it] clear that" special? What about another case, like "makes it problematic that"? Could "it" be grammatically omitted in that type of case, too?

The presence of the chemical in the product makes it problematic that the company has not removed it from the shelves.​

? The presence of the chemical in the product makes problematic that the company has not removed it from the shelves.​

​

I find it interesting that the author didn't use "it" between "made" and "clear."​

? I find interesting that the author didn't use "it" between "made" and "clear."​

Thank you.

 

[Tarheel]

Most people would probably mentally fill in the missing word and keep reading.

 

[5jj]

Do you think the omission of "it" works there?

Yes.

If so, is "made [it] clear that" special?

I think it is a one-off.

What about another case, like "makes it problematic that"? Could "it" be grammatically omitted in that type of case, too?

I can't accept it.

 

[jutfrank]

Do you think the omission of "it" works there?

Yes, very well. I use it all the time right here on this forum. So does 5jj, and I'm pretty sure emsr2d2 does too. Is this something of a British thing then, do you think? Obviously, the New York Times writer uses it.

If so, is "made [it] clear that" special? What about another case, like "makes it problematic that"? Could "it" be grammatically omitted in that type of case, too?

No, not at all.

 

[Skrej]

I've heard and used it, so I don't think it's an AmE vs. BrE issue.

 

[Annabel Lee]

I wonder if the reason it works without it is that made clear [that-clause] need not be analyzed as made [that-clause] clear.

If made clear is treated as a unit meaning clarified, then the construction is no more surprising than clarified [that-clause]:

He has made clear that he expects the Justice Department to mete out punishment to his perceived enemies.​

= He has clarified that he expects the Justice Department to mete out punishment to his perceived enemies.​

 

[jutfrank]

Yes, I see it as a phrasal verb unit that need not be separated.

I've made clear my position.
I've made my position clear.

Both are fine in my book.