Donald Trump says he would consider pardoning members of his administration, a move that would mark a sharp break from how previous presidents handled the matter.
Trump made the remarks during an interview with TIME magazine. When asked if he was considering pardoning members of his administration before the end of his term, Trump answered plainly: “Yeah, sure, I’d do that.”
Trump points to Biden
Trump pointed to former President Joe Biden’s blanket pardon as a precedent. He described Biden’s action by saying, “Biden gave pardons to everyone.”
The comparison is notable because Biden’s pardon covered relatives and members of his administration.
What a pardon means
A pardon removes legal consequences for a crime. It is a presidential power that sits outside the normal judicial process.
Trump did not offer a reason for his openness to pardoning his administration.
Timing of the pardon
Trump was asked about pardons before the end of his term. That timing matters, because a president’s power extends only until the end of their time in office.
A pardon issued before the end of a term would apply immediately. A pardon issued afterward would depend on whether the next administration chose to honor it.
Trump did not specify which members of his administration he might pardon, nor did he give a timeline beyond saying he would consider doing it.
The Biden comparison
Trump’s reference to Biden’s pardon is telling. It shows he is thinking about his own legacy and the treatment of his associates.
Biden’s pardon covered a wide group, including relatives and members of the administration. Trump’s statement suggests he would want to protect his own inner circle in the same way.
The comparison also raises questions about consistency. If Biden’s pardon was acceptable, Trump argues, then his own pardon should be too.
What happens next
Trump has not announced a pardon plan. His statement was in response to a question, not a formal announcement.
The interview with TIME magazine is the source of this story. All quotes and details come from that exchange.
“Yeah, sure, I’d do that”
The statement carries weight because it comes from the president himself, speaking directly about his intentions.
Our view on pardons
Pardons are a legitimate presidential power, but they raise difficult questions about fairness. A pardon before trial removes the chance for a fair hearing entirely.
Trump argues that pardoning his administration protects them from political targeting. That is a fair point in some cases. But it cuts both ways: if a president can pardon his associates, future presidents can pardon theirs.
The justice system should operate independently of politics. A pardon handed out before a trial sets a dangerous precedent, one that concentrates power in a single person’s hands.
Trump’s statement raises the stakes for his administration. His associates now know he is willing to act on their behalf. Whether he follows through remains to be seen.
Where the paper stands
The paper backs smaller government and individual freedom and is against offices gathering more power, especially when pardons become a tool for protecting those offices themselves. Trump’s statement that he would consider pardoning members of his administration before the end of his term marks a sharp break from how previous presidents handled the matter, and it raises real questions about whether the president is putting his own associates above the law.
Trump pointed to Biden’s pardon as a precedent, but that comparison cuts both ways. If Biden’s pardon was acceptable, then Trump’s pardon should be too—and that logic points in the opposite direction of what the paper supports. Concentrating pardon power in one person’s hands, used to protect an inner circle, is a step toward government that acts on its own terms rather than on the public’s.
The paper would prefer presidents let the justice system operate without political interference. Pardons before trials remove the chance for a fair hearing entirely, and the paper opposes any move that puts more power in fewer hands, whatever party holds the office.
See the a run of 13 images at ABC News.
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