In his usual no-holds-barred style, President Donald Trump took aim at Joe Biden’s eleventh-hour decision to issue preemptive pardons to a list of family members and political insiders, a move Trump deemed both hypocritical and self-serving. Among those pardoned by Biden were Anthony Fauci, Retired General Mark Milley, and several prominent figures involved with the January 6 Committee. Trump didn’t hold back, pointing out the glaring irony of Biden’s previous campaign pledge to steer clear of such pardons.
Appearing on Fox News with Sean Hannity, Trump reminded viewers that Biden had not extended his clemency to himself, a detail Trump couldn’t resist highlighting. Hannity noted Biden’s earlier condemnation of the very idea of preemptive pardons during Trump’s first term, when speculation swirled that Trump might pardon his own children or attorney Rudy Giuliani. Back then, Biden had claimed that such actions would damage the nation’s reputation as a bastion of justice. Fast forward to the end of Biden’s presidency, and it seems those lofty principles were conveniently set aside.
Trump revealed that he, too, had been presented with the option to pardon himself and others during his first term but ultimately chose not to. He argued that neither he nor his allies had done anything wrong and that issuing such pardons would have been unnecessary. Trump also criticized Biden for abandoning his promise of impartiality within the Justice Department, a claim Biden frequently touted during his campaign. According to Trump, the Biden administration’s actions were less about justice and more about political theater.
The former president used the opportunity to spotlight the hardships faced by his allies, such as Steve Bannon and Peter Navarro, who endured legal battles and severe financial strain during Biden’s tenure. Trump expressed admiration for their resilience, noting that many of his supporters, despite being targeted, wouldn’t have accepted pardons even if offered. In contrast, he framed Biden’s flurry of pardons as a desperate attempt to protect his own inner circle while turning a blind eye to the fallout his administration caused for others.
Trump’s most pointed remark came when he zeroed in on the glaring omission in Biden’s pardon spree—Biden himself. With his signature mix of sarcasm and indignation, Trump questioned why Biden chose to protect everyone but the person most entangled in controversies tied to his administration. For Trump, the pardons symbolized not justice but a shield for Biden’s allies, leaving the American public to question what, if anything, Biden truly stood for during his time in office. The contrast between Trump’s decision to forgo preemptive pardons and Biden’s last-minute clemency spree underscores the deep divides in how each administration approached accountability and justice.
