While much of the media coverage focuses on how political Trumpâs pardons are, thereâs a darker, more disturbing truth: these pardons are transactional.
Trump isnât just pardoning friends â heâs rewarding loyalty and actions that benefited him personally, often in legally dubious ways. From dangling pardons over allies during sensitive investigations to now pardoning dozens of people who tried to overturn the 2020 election, Trump is creating a system where people feel they canât be held accountable federally if their actions serve him.
His latest batch? 77 people, including Rudy Giuliani, Sidney Powell, and Mark Meadows, all involved in the âfake electorsâ scheme. And while many havenât faced federal charges, Trump is symbolically rewarding risky, unlawful acts that helped him.
When you add up all the pardons across his terms â including January 6 defendants and loyal allies â Trump has pardoned over 1,650 people, more than 84% of his clemency powers, mostly those who acted for him. Many even committed acts of violence, some targeting police.
The message is clear: help Trump, no matter the legality, and you might just get a pardon.
Historical patterns back this up. From Manafort lying after a cooperation deal to Michael Cohen being promised a pardon, Trump has long used clemency as a transactional tool to ensure loyalty. Giuliani, Eastman, and others involved in the 2020 election overturn efforts were reportedly lining up for pardons immediately after January 6 â signaling they knew their actions were legally questionable.
The takeaway? These arenât just political pardons. Theyâre a systematic reward for personal loyalty and risky maneuvers, building a network of people who believe Trump has their backs â no matter what.
đ„ The Trump pardon machine isnât just politics. Itâs power, loyalty, and protection â all rolled into one.
