Trump Plans Mass Pardons for Aides to Shield Them From Prosecution, Report Reveals

Donald Trump is doubling down on his notorious pardon power by promising mass pardons to a wide circle of his aides, according to a report from The Wall Street Journal. The former president, now back in office, has repeatedly assured administration officials that he will shield them from prosecution for any crimes committed while working for him — a move that could effectively place his inner circle above the law.

In one recent meeting, Trump reportedly declared he would “pardon everyone who has come within 200 feet of the Oval” before his term ends in January 2029. Another conversation in his private dining room included musings about holding a news conference to announce a sweeping wave of pardons in the final days of his administration.

This strategy leverages the broad constitutional authority granted to presidents to “grant Reprieves and Pardons for Offences against the United States.” While Trump himself enjoys near-immunity from criminal prosecution for official acts following a 2024 Supreme Court ruling, his aides do not share that protection — unless preemptively pardoned.

Trump’s use of pardons has long been a tool to reward loyalty and shield allies. Since returning to office last year, he has issued clemency to over 1,600 people, including January 6 rioters, political allies, campaign donors, and controversial figures like ex-Honduran president Juan Orlando Hernández and Binance founder Changpeng Zhao. These pardons have repeatedly sparked bipartisan outrage and raised serious questions about corruption and justice.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt dismissed the mass pardon promise as “a joke,” though she acknowledged the president’s pardon power remains “absolute.” Trump has floated pardons before when aides worried about legal risks, including a suggestion to pardon immigration officials for blocking asylum seekers — an idea never realized but emblematic of his disregard for legal norms.

In the aftermath of the January 6 Capitol attack, Trump considered mass pardons for his staff and campaign aides but ultimately refrained, later expressing regret. Now, with his return to the White House, he appears ready to follow through on those threats, weaponizing the pardon power to protect himself and his loyalists from any legal consequences.

This brazen plan to immunize his inner circle from accountability underscores the ongoing erosion of democratic norms under Trump’s leadership. It serves as a stark warning that the administration will prioritize shielding its own from justice rather than upholding the rule of law. We will be watching closely as this unprecedented use of presidential pardon power unfolds.