Trump Reportedly Vows Sweeping Oval Office Pardons Before Leaving Office
President Donald Trump has reportedly promised his top advisors that he will issue sweeping pardons to "everyone who has come within 200 feet of the Oval Office" before departing from his position, according to a White House insider who spoke with the Wall Street Journal. The president allegedly made this announcement during a recent meeting with his aides, though no specific details were provided regarding who might benefit from these expansive clemency actions.
Escalation of Pardon Promises
This latest pledge marks a significant escalation from earlier in the year, when the president reportedly committed to pardoning anyone who had come within ten feet of the Oval Office. According to sources familiar with the matter, Trump informed his aides gathered in his private dining room that he intends to announce these pardons during a news conference near the conclusion of his term. However, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt dismissed the report, stating, "The Wall Street Journal should learn to take a joke."
Despite the dismissal, the president's pardon power remains absolute under the constitution, granting him broad authority to issue clemency. Notably, on the first day of his second term in office in 2025, Trump granted nearly 1,600 blanket pardons to individuals involved in the January 6 riot. The White House defended these actions, describing the January 6 defendants as "unfairly targeted, overcharged, and used as political examples."
Historical Context of Pardon Usage
Since the beginning of his second term, President Trump has granted clemency to approximately 1,800 people, a stark increase compared to his first term when he signed fewer than 250 pardons and commutations. This surge in pardon activity highlights a more aggressive use of executive clemency powers during his later tenure.
In a parallel move, former President Joe Biden also utilized his pardon authority extensively in his final moments in office in January 2025. Biden sparked controversy by issuing preemptive pardons for Dr. Anthony Fauci and all nine members of the January 6 Committee, including Chairman Rep. Bennie Thompson and former Republican Rep. Liz Cheney, providing them immunity from potential future actions by Trump's Department of Justice.
Controversial Pardons and Reactions
Additionally, Biden granted blanket protection to former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley, whom Trump has previously stated deserves execution. At the time, Trump reacted strongly, telling NBC's Kristen Welker that these pardons were "disgraceful" and texting the anchor that "Many are guilty of MAJOR CRIMES!"
Biden also announced in December 2024 that he would issue a presidential pardon for his son Hunter, calling the prosecution "selective" and "unfair." The pardon covered any crimes Hunter may have committed from January 1, 2014, through December 1, 2024, and was announced just weeks after the White House had denied the president would make such a drastic move in the final months of his presidency.
The Daily Mail has reached out to the White House for further comment on these developments, but as of now, the full scope and implications of Trump's reported pardon promises remain uncertain, pending official confirmation or denial from the administration.
