President Donald Trump could dole out 250 pardons to mark America's 250th birthday, but insiders are fretting over how that audacious gambit could look in a midterm election year. The Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday that the President is considering a pardon-palooza as yet another way to mark the country's big milestone.
Inspiration from Historical Jubilees
The idea comes from kings and popes historically granting pardons and forgiving sins during 'jubilee' year celebrations. The pardons could drop on June 14, which is Flag Day, the President's birthday and the planned date for the South Lawn UFC fight. Another idea is to announce them on the Fourth of July.
Internal Concerns
But sources told the Journal that some in the White House have raised concerns about how the move would be perceived by voters, as Republicans fight to preserve their wafer-thin majorities in the House and Senate. And a White House official cautioned the Daily Mail that the plan isn't fully baked yet.
'While there are always ongoing policy conversations about how to best act on the President's priorities, no decisions have been made nor has any action been taken,' a White House official said. 'President Trump is the ultimate decider on any clemency-related actions.'
Trump's Pardon Record
Trump has already signed a slew of pardons since returning to the White House last January, starting with the controversial order to pardon every January 6 Capitol attack defendant. He also pardoned more colorful characters like imprisoned reality TV stars Todd and Julie Chrisley, and commuted the sentence of jailed former Republican Representative George Santos.
Overall, Trump has already pardoned some 1,700 people in his second term and commuted sentences like Santos's as well. That's in comparison to President Joe Biden, who only pardoned 80 individuals but commuted the sentences of more than 4,100 people.
Public Perception
December polling from the Economist and YouGov showed that a majority of Americans thought Trump was using the pardon power too much. When just independents, a crucial swing voting bloc, were polled, 61 percent said Trump had given out too many pardons.
Trump has largely shrugged off criticism about his abundance of plans to mark America's birthday. Most recently, he's stood his ground over a decision to paint the bottom of the Reflecting Pool on the National Mall 'American flag blue.' The President said the updates to the National Mall's aesthetic are part of the broader semiquincentennial celebration.
Other Birthday Plans
The Cultural Landscape Foundation sued this week over the Reflecting Pool project, which has already started. The President has also said the construction of his Triumphal arch, nicknamed the 'Arc de Trump,' is to mark the country's birthday. CNN reported Tuesday that the Federal Aviation Administration is studying the plans for the arch to determine whether the landmark's height would be a hazard for airplanes and helicopters. The planned site for the more than 250-foot arch is less than two miles away from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.
The President has long wanted to create a 'National Garden of American Heroes,' with the plan now to have the garden feature 250 statues to, again, mark America250. Trump also helped bring an IndyCar race, dubbed the Freedom 250 Grand Prix, to Washington for an August event surrounding the National Mall. And he'll, of course, host the UFC fight on the White House's South Lawn to mark his birthday next month.
