Joe Biden privately weighed the extraordinary idea of pardoning Donald Trump during a late-night conversation with first lady Jill Biden, according to Republican Utah Gov. Spencer Cox.
Cox recounts the exchange in his forthcoming book, an episode highlighted Thursday by The Atlantic, saying he raised the prospect of a Trump pardon with Biden in August 2023 — and was surprised to learn the president and first lady had already discussed it.
“Mr. President, I know this might sound crazy, but I think you should pardon Donald Trump,” Cox recalled telling Biden as they rode together in the presidential limousine in Salt Lake City.
Biden, Cox wrote, did not dismiss the suggestion. Instead, he replied: “You know, I’ve actually considered this for a while.”
“In fact, just this week as we were lying in bed, Jill and I had a long conversation about it,” Biden reportedly continued, acknowledging that many Americans were “demanding justice” even as he contemplated whether a pardon for Trump could serve a broader purpose.
The conversation came only days after Trump was federally indicted over his alleged attempt to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election.
At that point, Trump was also already facing federal charges tied to his alleged mishandling of classified documents and was navigating his Manhattan case over alleged falsification of business records.
Cox, who was not backing Trump’s 2024 comeback bid at the time, said he worried that putting the 45th president on trial would further inflame the nation’s already volatile political climate.
He argued that by pardoning Trump, Biden could deescalate tensions and break the cycle of partisan retribution.
Biden, who granted 80 pardons, including to his son, Hunter, and former COVID czar Anthony Fauci, did not end up issuing one to Trump.
It’s unclear if Jill dissuaded her husband from pardoning Trump. The first lady reportedly wielded significant political influence during her aging husband’s only term in office.
A few days after Cox pitched the idea to Biden, Trump was indicted on state charges in Georgia over his alleged efforts to interfere in the presidential election in the Peach State.
A presidential pardon would not have prevented prosecution in the Georgia or Manhattan cases.
The federal cases against Trump, as well as the Georgia case, were dismissed after he defeated former Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election.
Trump was convicted on 34 felony counts at the end of his Manhattan trial.
A spokesperson for Biden did not immediately respond to The Post’s request for comment.
A few months before his conversation with Cox, Biden was asked by Fox News reporter Peter Doocy about potentially pardoning Trump.
Biden cracked a smile and waved the question off, before replying, “I’ll see you guys” and calling it “a great question.”
