President Donald Trump’s White House is reportedly weighing unprecedented preemptive pardons that could shield thousands of administration employees from future federal prosecution, as allies brace for potentially expansive Democrat-led investigations after next month’s midterm elections.
The proposal could cover staff members involved in carrying out some of Trump’s most contentious initiatives, including immigration enforcement, trade policy and military operations.
Trump appeared to keep the possibility open on Saturday. Although he said he had not seriously considered issuing broad pardons, the president emphasized that he believed the Constitution gave him the authority to do so.
Trump argued that administration officials could otherwise endure years of politically driven investigations and face crippling legal expenses.
“Well, I haven’t thought of it, but I will tell you, it would be very unfair to go through what we went through for four years with the corrupt weaponization that took place,” Trump told reporters.
“So, in light of what Biden did—as you know, Biden shielded many people… Certainly, I haven’t thought about it, but certainly I’d be allowed to.”
His remarks came after The Washington Sun reported Saturday that White House lawyers were exploring preemptive pardons for lower-level officials who helped execute Trump’s agenda.
A blanket pardon for every junior employee is viewed as unlikely, but the discussions reportedly include possible protections for groups of officials involved in especially sensitive policy areas.
Trump has signaled that he may consider preemptive pardons for thousands of White House staffers, arguing that he has the authority to protect employees from potentially financially devastating federal investigations
The administration is reportedly examining broad pardons for officials connected to controversial immigration, trade and military policies as concerns grow over possible future investigations. Trump is pictured with White House staffers in 2020
Such a step would greatly broaden the traditional application of presidential clemency by potentially protecting officials from federal charges before a criminal investigation had even started.
The reported discussions reflect concerns among Trump’s allies that Democrats could pursue aggressive inquiries into administration personnel if they regain control of Congress following the midterms.
A presidential pardon, however, would not stop congressional investigations. Pardons apply to federal criminal offenses, not to political oversight or legislative scrutiny.
Trump has repeatedly said his staff should not be forced into the kind of costly legal battles that he and his allies faced after his first term in office.
“I certainly don’t want to see innocent people go through hell and lose all their money,” the president said Saturday.
Trump then addressed White House aide Margo Martin, who was nearby, appearing to offer her direct reassurance.
“Margo, you’re not going to have to worry about it, OK?” Trump said.
He did not explicitly say that Martin would receive a pardon, nor did he clarify exactly what he intended by the remark.
Donald Trump is pictured speaking with Chamberlain Harris, the White House deputy director of Oval Office operations
As he discussed the possibility of pardons Saturday, Trump appeared to reassure White House aide Margo Martin, telling her: “Margo, you’re not going to have to worry about it, OK?”
Trump aides, from left, Walt Nauta, Chris Ambrosini and Margo Martin are seen pictured outside the White House. The president says he does not want administration employees forced to spend years fighting costly legal battles
White House staffers are seen in social media posts from a state visit to UK in September 2025
But his remarks reinforced his increasingly outspoken determination to protect those serving in his administration from future legal jeopardy.
Earlier this month, Trump made a similar argument during an interview with Newsmax, suggesting that former President Joe Biden had already established a precedent for using clemency to shield political allies.
‘I don’t want to see people that work for me go through years of nonsense, hire lawyers, and everything else,’ Trump said. ‘I’m allowed to pardon.’
He also warned that administration officials could face investigations long after their government service ends.
‘I don’t want to see my people go through,’ he said. ‘At the end of two and a half years, we will have done things that nobody’s ever done.’
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The possibility of sweeping pardons first emerged publicly in April, when the Wall Street Journal reported that Trump was considering broad protections for members of his staff.
Then-White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt dismissed the suggestion at the time.
The newspaper ‘should learn to take a joke, however, the president’s pardon power is absolute,’ she said.
The White House has not publicly confirmed that a mass pardon plan is being prepared.
Trump pardoned his former national security adviser Michael Flynn in 2020 after he pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI during the investigation into Russian election interference
Longtime Trump confidant Roger Stone received a presidential pardon in December 2020 after being convicted of obstructing a congressional investigation, witness tampering and lying to Congress
Trump pardoned former White House strategist Steve Bannon in the final hours of his first presidency, wiping away federal fraud charges connected to a fundraising campaign for the border wall
Trump commuted the prison sentence of disgraced former GOP congressman George Santos in October 2025, freeing him less than three months into a sentence for fraud and identity theft
Trump also pardoned former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez after he was convicted for drug trafficking and weapons charges and sentenced to 45 years in prison
Trump has nevertheless demonstrated a willingness to use his clemency powers extensively, including granting pardons or commutations to approximately 1,500 people connected to the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot.
During his first term, he pardoned several prominent political allies, including former national security adviser Michael Flynn, longtime confidant Roger Stone and former White House strategist Steve Bannon.
More recently, Trump commuted the prison sentence of disgraced former Republican congressman George Santos, who had pleaded guilty to fraud and identity theft offenses.
He also pardoned former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández, who had been serving a 45-year prison sentence following his conviction in a massive cocaine-trafficking case.
Trump defended that controversial decision by arguing Hernández had been unfairly prosecuted.
‘The people of Honduras really thought he was set up, and it was a terrible thing,’ Trump said.
The president has repeatedly pointed to Biden’s own controversial final pardons as justification for exercising his constitutional powers broadly.
Trump insists he has not seriously considered mass pardons, but reports suggest White House attorneys are already exploring ways to protect administration officials from potential federal prosecution
The prospect of sweeping pardons has sparked fresh concerns over presidential power
Before leaving office, Biden issued preemptive pardons to several family members, former infectious disease official Dr. Anthony Fauci, retired General Mark Milley and members of the congressional committee investigating January 6.
Legal experts note that presidential pardons do not provide unlimited protection.
Janai Nelson, president of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, wrote Saturday that pardons ‘do not provide absolute immunity.’
Recipients could still face state prosecutions, civil lawsuits and professional sanctions, even if they were protected from federal criminal charges.
Democratic Rep. Mike Levin has meanwhile backed a constitutional amendment restricting presidential clemency and prohibiting presidents from pardoning themselves.
Levin argued that ‘presidents of both parties have misused’ their authority, although he expressed particular concern about Trump’s actions.
The proposal faces enormous constitutional hurdles, requiring two-thirds support in both chambers of Congress and ratification by three-quarters of the states.
Our News Outlet has reached out to the White House for additional comment.
