Donald Trump wasted no time leveraging President Joe Biden’s controversial pardon of Hunter Biden, linking it to his own potential plan to pardon January 6 defendants. In a fiery Truth Social post, Trump wrote:
“Does the Pardon given by Joe to Hunter include the J-6 Hostages, who have now been imprisoned for years? Such an abuse and miscarriage of Justice!”
A New Rallying Cry for Trump’s Base
Trump’s remarks came shortly after Fox News commentator Charlie Hurt suggested Biden’s pardon sets a precedent that Trump should follow. Hurt called for leniency for many January 6 defendants, saying, “Pardon every single one of them,” while acknowledging harsher penalties for those who committed serious offenses during the Capitol attack.
The former president has frequently floated the idea of pardoning January 6 participants if reelected. During a May 2023 town hall, Trump said, “I am inclined to pardon many of them… It will be a large portion and it would be early on.”
Justice System Criticisms Resurface
The Justice Department has charged over 1,200 people in connection with the January 6 attack, citing violent clashes with law enforcement and interference with official proceedings. Trump’s potential FBI pick, Kash Patel, has also championed January 6 defendants, even incorporating a rendition of the national anthem sung by detainees into Trump’s campaign rallies.
Trump’s spokesperson, Steven Cheung, condemned what he described as a politicized justice system under Biden, vowing a restoration of “due process for all Americans” in Trump’s second term. Trump himself refrained from directly criticizing Biden’s decision but used it to amplify his broader narrative of systemic corruption.
Hunter Biden Pardon Sparks Broader Debate
Biden’s pardon of his son Hunter, citing “selective” and “unfair” prosecution, has drawn backlash from both sides of the aisle. While Republicans decry it as evidence of a politicized system, some Democrats, including Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, criticized Biden for prioritizing family over country.
Despite the heated political debate, Trump’s response to the pardon revealed an uncharacteristically softer stance. Asked in October whether he would consider pardoning Hunter Biden, Trump surprised many by not ruling it out. “I wouldn’t take it off the books,” he said, adding that politically motivated prosecutions “are very bad for our country.”
What’s Next?
As Trump builds his case for a return to the White House, Biden’s decision to pardon Hunter has provided fresh ammunition for Trump’s campaign. Whether this move reshapes the national conversation around presidential pardons and justice reform remains to be seen, but Trump’s ability to link the Hunter Biden controversy to January 6 could galvanize his base heading into 2024.
