Trump expects 'tremendous' wave of executive clemency before leaving office
The president told CBS News he plans to grant many more pardons and defended his earlier releases of January 6 defendants.
By Tomas Gonzalez ·
President Donald Trump told CBS News on Sunday that he intends to issue "tremendous numbers" of pardons before the end of his term.
Speaking in a "60 Minutes" interview, the president stated he has the authority to pardon himself but does not expect to use that power.
He described the idea as "not unreasonable" while explaining his desire to protect individuals serving the country from political attacks.
Trump told reporter Ross Douthat that he does not want "good people" to spend their lives defending against "radical left lunatics" as he did during his first four years.
The president indicated he may pardon those who "got within a thousand miles of the Oval Office" during his current administration.
This statement follows his early 2025 actions regarding the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack.
He commuted the sentences of 14 individuals and granted full pardons to approximately 1,500 other convicted defendants.
Trump defended those decisions in the interview, calling the treatment of the group "very unfair."
He noted that some of the pardoned individuals still cry when they see him.
When asked about those who attacked law enforcement, Trump acknowledged some "got rough" but argued the officers were "rough to them, too."
His approach contrasts with the actions of his predecessor, President Joe Biden.
Biden issued several pardons in 2025, including for family members and senior officials like Dr. Anthony Fauci and retired Gen. Mark Milley, but he did not pardon himself.
