Republican National Committee co-chair Lara Trump expressed concern over the weekend that President Joe Biden could “set a bad precedent” by issuing preemptive pardons to individuals who might be targeted by President-elect Donald Trump’s administration.
During her appearance on Fox News Sunday, Lara Trump addressed reports suggesting the Biden administration was considering pardons for Dr. Anthony Fauci and members of the House committee that investigated the January 6 Capitol riots.
“I think it’s rather outrageous,” Lara Trump said. “I think it’s such a bad precedent being set, if that indeed happens, for the future of this country.” She questioned the need for preemptive pardons, implying that such actions could suggest guilt. “Why is it that you would need to do blanket pardons like that if no one is guilty of anything?” she asked.
“I think it leads people in this country to say, wow, these folks must have done something pretty bad, that they’re going to have to go out of their way to get preemptive pardons, things for which they haven’t even been charged yet.”
“So I really hope we don’t see that happen,” she concluded. Her comments followed remarks made by Donald Trump in a separate NBC News interview, where the president-elect suggested members of the January 6 Committee should “go to jail.”
Lara Trump’s concerns come amid growing questions about the direction of Trump’s incoming administration, particularly regarding key appointments like Kash Patel, Trump’s pick for FBI director. Patel has publicly vowed to “come after” journalists who challenged Trump’s claims that the 2020 election was stolen, as well as other “conspirators” in the federal government.
The Washington Post has previously documented that Trump broke at least 20 significant presidential norms during his first administration, raising fears that a second term could bring even more departures from established practices.
While Lara Trump framed preemptive pardons as unnecessary and damaging, critics argue that the comments reflect a broader strategy by Trump’s allies to discredit investigations and shield political allies from potential accountability.
The discussion underscores the escalating political tensions surrounding Trump’s return to power, with both sides preparing for a highly polarized and contentious term. Whether Biden proceeds with preemptive pardons remains to be seen, but the debate highlights growing anxieties about what a second Trump administration could mean for political opponents and federal institutions.