Trump Criticizes Biden’s Clemency Choices, Highlights Absence of Self-Pardon in Heated Remarks
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President Donald Trump took aim at former President Joe Biden on Wednesday, pointing out Biden’s decision not to pardon himself before leaving office. The comments came during a preview of Trump’s interview with Fox News host Sean Hannity, which the network is billing as his first “exclusive” Oval Office sit-down since his inauguration.
“This guy went around giving everybody pardons,” Trump said, referencing Biden’s recent flurry of last-minute clemencies. “And you know the funny thing, maybe the sad thing, is he didn’t give himself a pardon.” Trump suggested Biden’s omission might have significant consequences, adding, “And if you look at it, it all had to do with him.”
Trump has long accused the Biden administration of weaponizing the Justice Department against him and his allies while alleging corruption within the Biden family. These claims have continued to stoke partisan tensions, particularly as both Biden and Trump issued controversial pardons in recent days, told CBC News.
Biden’s pardons, announced earlier this week, included preemptive clemency for individuals Trump has previously indicated he would target for prosecution. Among those pardoned were five of Biden’s family members and members of the January 6 select committee, a move that has sparked significant political debate.
Meanwhile, Trump’s own actions have drawn criticism from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle. His decision to issue blanket pardons for individuals convicted in connection to the January 6 Capitol attack has raised eyebrows, even among some Republican senators. These pardons have further polarized Congress, with some viewing them as a signal of Trump’s continued loyalty to his base, while others see them as a dangerous precedent undermining accountability.
Trump’s remarks about Biden not pardoning himself add a new layer to the political drama surrounding the use of presidential clemency powers. While Biden’s preemptive pardons are seen by supporters as a way to shield individuals from politically motivated prosecutions, critics have called them an overreach of executive authority.
Similarly, Trump’s blanket pardons for the January 6 attackers have been labeled both as a defense of his supporters and as an erosion of the rule of law.
The exchange highlights the deeply divided state of American politics, with both presidents using their final acts of clemency to protect allies while drawing scrutiny from their opponents. As the debate over these pardons continues, the political and legal implications remain a focal point of national discourse.
