President Donald Trump left the door open Saturday to pardoning White House staff and administration officials. He told reporters he had not given the idea serious thought but said, "I'd be allowed to." 1
Trump said it would be unfair for his people to go through what he described as a weaponization of the justice system. He pointed to former President Joe Biden, saying Biden protected many people. 1
A remark to an aide
Trump also said he doesn't want "innocent people" to "go through hell and lose all their money." He then turned to White House aide Margo Martin, who was standing nearby. 1
Margo, you're not going to have to worry about it, OK?
Trump did not mention a pardon in those remarks or explain what he meant. 1
From Channel GOPTrump says he alone decides who gets paidDonald Trump · 135 plays · captioned, with the source named
What the reports say
Newsweek said The Washington Sun reported Saturday that White House attorneys are evaluating preemptive pardons for lower-level officials. A blanket pardon for all junior staff is seen as unlikely, according to that report. Talks have reportedly covered broader protection for officials working on immigration, trade and military matters. 1
The White House has not publicly confirmed it is considering broad preemptive pardons. We have not independently confirmed the Washington Sun report. 1
The idea has come up before. On April 10, the Wall Street Journal reported that Trump has repeatedly promised top officials pardons before he leaves office, usually in jokes. It quoted him as saying, "I'll pardon everyone who has come within 200 feet of the Oval." Some officials told the paper that Trump often jokes about things he later pursues. 2
In an earlier Newsmax interview this month, Trump said, "I'm allowed to pardon." He said he doesn't want to see people who work for him "hire lawyers" and endure "years of nonsense." 1
Democrats and legal voices push back
Rep. Mike Levin, a California Democrat, called for a constitutional amendment to limit pardon powers and bar self-pardons. He said the limits should apply no matter which party holds the White House. 1
presidents of both parties have misused
The amendment was introduced last January and sent to the House Judiciary Committee. It would need a two-thirds vote in both the House and Senate. A Southern Methodist University professor has said it has "virtually no chance" of passing. 1
Janai Nelson, president of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, wrote on X that pardons "do not provide absolute immunity." She noted recipients can still face state and local prosecution, civil lawsuits and professional sanctions. 1
Why it matters
Legal experts say a broad pardon covering whole categories of staff would greatly expand how the power has traditionally been used. 1
Trump has already used the power widely in his second term. He granted clemency to about 1,500 people convicted over the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack. Last October he commuted the fraud sentence of former Republican Rep. George Santos. 1
Nothing has been issued, and Trump said he hasn't thought about it. Still, he is discussing protection for officials before any investigation exists. With the midterm election on Nov. 3, voters will help decide whether Congress is in a position to look into the administration's conduct. 1
The Record
Sources
- Newsweek, “Trump Renews Talks of Pardoning White House Staff” (2026-10-24). newsweek.com/donald-trump-white-house-pardons-12615294
- TMZ, “President Donald Trump Promises Mass Pardons for White House Staff: Report” (2026-04-10). tmz.com/2026/04/10/trump-allegedly-promises-pardons-to-staff
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