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President Donald Trump sharply criticized President Joe Biden on Wednesday, suggesting it was a mistake for Biden not to preemptively pardon himself before leaving office.
During an interview with Fox News host Sean Hannity, Trump repeatedly questioned Biden’s decision, hinting that it left him vulnerable to future legal scrutiny.
“This guy went around giving everybody pardons,” Trump said, referencing Biden’s decision to pardon a wide range of individuals, including his family members, political allies, and critics.
“And you know, the funny thing, maybe the sad thing, is he didn’t give himself a pardon. And if you look at it, it all had to do with him.”
Trump argued that Biden had received poor advice from his advisers. “Joe Biden has very bad advisers. Somebody advised Joe Biden to give pardons to everybody but him. That was very bad advice,” Trump stated, suggesting the president's advisers failed to anticipate the potential legal implications of his decisions.
The conversation touched on Biden’s controversial pardons, which included political figures like retired Gen. Mark Milley, former Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.), and members of the House committee investigating the January 6 Capitol attack.
Biden defended his actions, stating that he aimed to prevent politically motivated investigations. However, Trump criticized the broad use of presidential pardon power, suggesting Biden should face similar legal challenges to those he himself endured.
“I went through four years of hell by this scum that we had to deal with,” Trump said, referring to his legal battles during and after his presidency. “I spent millions of dollars in legal fees, and I won. But I did it the hard way. It’s really hard to say that they shouldn’t have to go through it too.”
When Hannity asked if Biden should be investigated, Trump deferred the decision to Congress, stating that it was up to lawmakers to decide. However, Trump expressed frustration with what he described as a double standard in how political figures are held accountable.
“It’s hard to say they shouldn’t have to go through what I went through. I did it the hard way, but they should face the same scrutiny.”
Trump also shared a personal anecdote about his own decision not to pardon himself at the end of his first term. “I was given the option. They said, ‘Sir, would you like to pardon everybody, including yourself?’ I said, ‘I’m not going to pardon anybody. We didn’t do anything wrong.’”
Biden’s decision to issue widespread pardons has drawn significant scrutiny, particularly as it included both political allies and former critics. Trump highlighted how such decisions could create political and legal vulnerabilities, particularly when combined with the intense partisan divide in Washington.
The former president’s remarks underline the ongoing political tensions between Biden and Trump, as well as broader questions about the limits and ethical considerations of presidential pardon powers.
Trump’s comments suggest a broader narrative about accountability, fairness, and the legal battles faced by prominent political figures.
