According to a fresh interview, President Trump indicated he is weighing pardons for his administration officials prior to the conclusion of his term. He told Time magazine during a sitdown on Monday that he would have no issue with this move, according to NBC News.
"Yeah, sure I'd do that," the president said when asked about pardoning his team prior to the end of his term, per ABC News. He made these comments in an interview published on Thursday by the New York Post. Trump pointed directly to former President Joe Biden's actions as a reason for his own potential steps. He noted that Biden gave pardons to everyone, including Dr. Anthony Fauci, according to the New York Post.
"He gave them to [Dr. Anthony] Fauci," Trump groused during the conversation, as reported by the New York Post. He then asked a sharp question about the fairness of the situation. Yet you imply I cannot provide them, whereas Sleepy Joe is permitted to do so. Trump asked. He called the lack of similar protection for his team a disappointment to many Republicans.
Reports indicate that Trump has made specific promises to his staff about their safety after he leaves office. The Wall Street Journal reported earlier this year that he repeatedly promised pardons to his top officials. During a single meeting, Trump informed his team he would pardon all individuals who approached within 200 feet of the Oval. The report stated that last year he also informed advisers of his plan to hold a news conference announcing these mass pardons. Trump was asked about how he prepares for the possibility of Republicans losing control of the House in the midterm elections. He told Time magazine that his opponents will likely go after him, so he will go after them.
"They'll probably go after me and I'll go after them," Trump said in the interview. This stance shows he views the legal threats against his team as a political battle he intends to fight. This situation touches on the core issue of how the government treats its own people during times of political change. Many Americans worry that political opponents use the justice system as a weapon to settle scores after an election.
Trump's comments suggest he sees a double standard in how past presidents handled these risks for their staff. He believes it is wrong to deny him the same power that Biden used to protect his own team and family.