President Donald Trump is contemplating issuing 250 pardons to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary. However, some insiders are worried about how this ambitious move might be perceived during a crucial midterm election year.
According to a report by The Wall Street Journal on Wednesday, the President is considering this large-scale pardon event as a unique way to commemorate the nation’s significant milestone.
The concept draws inspiration from historical practices where kings and popes would grant pardons and absolve sins during jubilee year celebrations.
The potential date for these pardons could be June 14, coinciding with Flag Day, the President’s birthday, and a scheduled UFC fight on the South Lawn. Another option under consideration is announcing them on the Fourth of July.
However, sources have informed the Journal that some within the White House are apprehensive about the potential voter reaction, especially as Republicans strive to maintain their slim majorities in both the House and Senate.
A White House official also advised the Daily Mail that the plan is still in the preliminary stages and has not been finalized.
‘While there are always ongoing policy conversations about how to best act on the President’s priorities, no decisions have been made nor has any action been taken,’ a White House official said. ‘President Trump is the ultimate decider on any clemency-related actions.’
Trump has already signed a slew of pardons since returning to the White House last January, starting with the controversial order to pardon every January 6 Capitol attack defendant.
President Donald Trump could sign 250 more pardons to mark America’s 250th birthday, though some advisers worry it wouldn’t play well with voters before the midterm elections
He also pardoned more colorful characters like imprisoned reality TV stars, Todd and Julie Chrisley, and commuted the sentence of jailed former Republican Representative George Santos.
Overall, Trump has already pardoned some 1,700 people in his second term and commuted sentences like Santos’s as well.
That’s in comparison to President Joe Biden, who only pardoned 80 individuals but commuted the sentences of more than 4,100 people.
December polling from the Economist and YouGov showed that a majority of Americans thought Trump was using the pardon power too much.
When just independents, a crucial swing voting bloc, were polled, 61 percent said Trump had given out too many pardons.
Trump has largely shrugged off criticism about his abundance of plans to mark America’s birthday.
Most recently, he’s stood his ground over a decision to paint the bottom of the Reflecting Pool on the National Mall ‘American flag blue.’
The President said the updates to the National Mall’s aesthetic are part of the broader semiquincentennial celebration.
Among those pardoned by Trump so far were Todd Chrisley (left) and Julie Chrisley (right), who previously starred in the reality TV show, Chrisley Knows Best
Former Republican Representative George Santos had his sentence commuted by President Donald Trump last year
The Cultural Landscape Foundation sued this week over the Reflecting Pool project, which has already started.
The President has also said the construction of his Triumphal arch, nicknamed the ‘Arc de Trump,’ is to mark the country’s birthday.
CNN reported Tuesday that the Federal Aviation Administration is studying the plans for the arch to determine whether the landmark’s height would be a hazard for airplanes and helicopters.
The planned site for the more than 250-foot arch is less than two miles away from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.
The President has long wanted to create a ‘National Garden of American Heroes,’ with the plan now to have the garden feature 250 statues to, again, mark America250.
Trump also helped bring an IndyCar race, dubbed the Freedom 250 Grand Prix, to Washington for an August event surrounding the National Mall.
And he’ll, of course, host the UFC fight on the White House’s South Lawn to mark his birthday next month.
