White House officials are reportedly discussing a plan for President Donald Trump to issue a sweeping round of pardons to mark America’s 250th birthday, a proposal dubbed “250 pardons for 250 years.” The mass clemency could be announced around the Fourth of July, according to The Atlantic, citing more than a dozen sources.
Advisers are divided on the move. Some believe it could bolster Trump’s image as “merciful,” while others worry it could further damage his already low approval ratings. However, the idea has not yet been presented to Trump and may never reach him, a White House official told the outlet.
Trump has already drawn scrutiny for his acts of clemency, including a historic wave of pardons for white-collar criminals and political allies, such as nearly 1,600 January 6 defendants. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that Trump takes his pardon power seriously and that a rigorous review process involving the Justice Department and White House Counsel’s Office evaluates every request.
According to The Atlantic, the administration has largely bypassed the traditional pardon application process. Instead, an informal group of White House mediators has emerged, with political allies leveraging connections to advance pardon requests for a fee. One attorney told the outlet, “It is general knowledge in our practice that for $2 million, you can have a pardon.”
Among those reportedly under consideration for clemency are Malaysian fugitive Low Taek Jho, rapper Pras Michel, and entrepreneur Nicole Daedone. However, a White House official said these individuals are “not on the radar of the pardon team.”
