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By Andrew Stanton and Gabe Whisnant
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President Donald Trump has repeatedly discussed the possibility of issuing broad pardons to members of his administration before leaving office, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal citing people familiar with his private comments.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt responded to the report in a statement to Newsweek.
"The Wall Street Journal should learn to take a joke, however, the President’s pardon power is absolute," she wrote.
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Why It Matters
Presidents generally have wide authority on pardons. Democrats have signaled plans to investigate the Trump administration if they retake control of the House of Representatives after the midterm elections, a scenario polls show is increasingly likely amid the president's declining approval rating.
What Donald Trump Said About Mass Pardons
In meetings with aides and advisers, Trump has joked—and at times spoken more seriously—about granting clemency to officials who could face legal jeopardy or congressional scrutiny, the newspaper reported.
According to the Journal, the comments have surfaced often enough inside the White House to prompt some aides to question whether the president is laying the groundwork for sweeping preemptive pardons.
The discussions arrive as Trump has aggressively used his pardon power during his second term, drawing renewed attention to the scope of presidential clemency and raising concerns among critics about how it could be deployed to shield allies from future investigations.
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The Journal reported that Trump said during one meeting he would "pardon everyone who has come within 200 feet of the Oval," citing "people with knowledge of the comments." Another person told the outlet he "quipped about pardoning anyone who had come within 10 feet."
Trump, in a separate conversation, said he would announce mass pardons during a news conference before leaving office, according to the report. Sources told the Journal they were unaware of any specific pardons being offered to any one individual.
What Pardon Power Does the President Have?
The president's pardon power is in Article II of the U.S. Constitution.
"The President shall be Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, and of the Militia of the several States, when called into the actual Service of the United States; he may require the Opinion, in writing, of the principal Officer in each of the executive Departments, upon any Subject relating to the Duties of their respective Offices, and he shall have Power to grant Reprieves and Pardons for Offences against the United States, except in Cases of Impeachment," Article II reads.
Republicans Criticized Biden Pardons
Trump and other Republicans were sharply critical of former President Joe Biden issuing blanket pardons at the end of his term in office.
As he prepared to depart, Biden granted preemptive pardons to numerous people including family members, Dr. Anthony Fauci, General Mark Milley and members of Congress who served on the House Select Committee to Investigate the January 6h Attack on the United States Capitol. Democrats said at the time the pardons were not reflective of wrongdoing but concerns that Trump’s Justice Department would investigate them as part of “retribution.”
Trump has argued the alleged use of autopen makes those pardons void.
"The 'Pardons' that Sleepy Joe Biden gave to the Unselect Committee of Political Thugs, and many others, are hereby declared VOID, VACANT, AND OF NO FURTHER FORCE OR EFFECT, because of the fact that they were done by Autopen. In other words, Joe Biden did not sign them but, more importantly, he did not know anything about them! The necessary Pardoning Documents were not explained to, or approved by, Biden. He knew nothing about them, and the people that did may have committed a crime. Therefore, those on the Unselect Committee, who destroyed and deleted ALL evidence obtained during their two year Witch Hunt of me, and many other innocent people, should fully understand that they are subject to investigation at the highest level. The fact is, they were probably responsible for the Documents that were signed on their behalf without the knowledge or consent of the Worst President in the History of our Country, Crooked Joe Biden!" he wrote to Truth Social.
Update 4/10/26, 4:37 p.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.
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