Donald Trump has reportedly said he intends to issue pardons en masse to his closest advisers at the end of his second presidency, according to a Wall Street Journal report citing an anonymous source. The report says Trump has been making the remark in casual conversations over the past year.
In one recent meeting, Trump allegedly joked, “I’ll pardon everyone who has come within 200 feet of the Oval [Office],” a line that reportedly drew laughter from the room. The comment was presented as part of a broader pattern of informal discussion about future clemency plans.
The report comes as Trump is already carrying out sweeping pardons during his second term. Among the most prominent examples cited is the pardon of 1,500 people involved in the US Capitol riot, a move that has drawn intense attention and criticism.
Mass pardons at the end of a presidential term would fit into the larger political and legal significance of clemency powers, which presidents can use to forgive federal offenses. In Trump’s case, the reported remarks suggest he views that authority not only as a governing tool, but also as a way to protect allies and advisers connected to his administration.
The Wall Street Journal report does not identify the people who allegedly heard the remark, and the claims are based on an anonymous source. Still, the reported comments add to the scrutiny surrounding Trump’s use of presidential pardons during his second term and the possible scope of what could come next if he follows through on the idea.
Trump’s reported statement also underscores how pardons have remained a recurring feature of his presidency. The reference to people who have come “within 200 feet of the Oval Office” suggests a broad and informal approach to defining the circle of potential beneficiaries, though no specific list of names was provided in the report.
As the end of his second presidency approaches, the possibility of large-scale pardons is likely to remain a major point of political debate. The report adds another layer to questions about how Trump plans to use executive power in his final stretch in office.
