
Full List of Donald Trump Pardons During His Second Term
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
President Donald Trump has announced a string of pardons this week, the latest examples of him using his clemency power to pardon people he believes have been treated unfairly by the justice system.
Since the start of his second term, Trump has issued a string of pardons while criticizing what he describes as the politicalization and weaponization of the justice system.
While his supporters see these pardons as efforts to correct unjust sentences, critics say they reflect a pattern of using presidential power to amplify Trump's narrative of persecution and to cast doubt on the legitimacy of the justice system.
Here is a full list of people Trump has so far pardoned in his second term.
President Donald Trump pictured in the Oval Office at the White House on January 30, 2025 in Washington, DC. He has issued several pardons so far in his second term.
President Donald Trump pictured in the Oval Office at the White House on January 30, 2025 in Washington, DC. He has issued several pardons so far in his second term.January 6 Capitol Riot Defendants
On his inauguration day, January 20, 2025, Trump granted full pardons to nearly everyone charged with offenses related to the January 6, 2021 Capitol riot, totaling approximately 1,500 individuals.
This sweeping action included both nonviolent participants and those convicted of violent crimes against law enforcement.
Trump also commuted the sentences of 14 prominent figures from far-right groups relating to the Capitol attack.
This included Enrique Tarrio, the former Proud Boys leader, who was previously sentenced to 22 years for seditious conspiracy, and Stewart Rhodes, the founder of the Oath Keepers, whose 18-year sentence was commuted to time served.
This mass clemency was described by Trump as an effort to "end a grave national injustice" and promote "national reconciliation."
Ross Ulbricht
On January 21, Trump granted a full and unconditional pardon to Ross Ulbricht, the founder of the Silk Road dark web marketplace, an anonymous platform that facilitated the sale of illegal drugs and other illicit goods using cryptocurrency.
Ulbricht had been given a life sentence in 2015 for multiple charges, including conspiracy to distribute narcotics and money laundering.
The pardon fulfilled a campaign promise Trump made at the 2024 Libertarian National Convention and was supported by libertarian and cryptocurrency communities, who viewed the sentence as an example of government overreach.
He pardoned Ulbricht in spite of his parallel calls for drug dealers to be executed in the U.S.
Andrew Zabavsky and Terence Dale Sutton, Jr.
Trump issued a "full and unconditional pardon" to Washington, DC Metropolitan Police Department officers Andrew Zabavsky and Terence Sutton for their roles in the death of 20-year-old Karon Hylton-Brown.
The pair were sentenced for their involvement in the death of Hylton-Brown, who they had pursued in a high-speed chase for driving a moped without a helmet, and for covering up the incident.
Anti-Abortion Activists
Trump pardoned 23 anti-abortion activists on January 23 who had been convicted in 2023 under the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act for blockading a clinic entrance in Washington, D.C., abortion clinic and intimidating staff and patients.
This included Lauren Handy, the controversial activist inside whose home authorities discovered five fetuses in 2022.
Rod Blagojevich
In February, Trump granted a full pardon to former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich, who had been convicted in 2011 on multiple corruption charges, including attempting to sell Barack Obama's vacant Senate seat, and sentenced to 14 years in prison.
The former Democratic governor has been a vocal Trump supporter, previously describing himself as a "Trump-ocrat."
Trump had commuted his sentence during his first term, leading to him being released after serving eight years. The new pardon clears his criminal record.
Brian Kelsey
In March, Trump pardoned the former Republican Tennessee state Senator Brian Kelsey, who had pleaded guilty over attempting to illegally funnel money to his failed campaign for Congress in 2016.
He was only two weeks into his 21-month prison sentence when he was pardoned.
Devon Archer
In March, Trump granted a full pardon to Devon Archer, a former business associate of Hunter Biden, who had been convicted in 2022 for defrauding a Native American tribe in a $60 million bond scheme.
Archer became a key figure in the congressional inquiry into the Biden family businesses, testifying that former President Joe Biden's son had sold the "illusion of access" to his father to clients and business associates.
Trump said that Archer, who had been sentenced to one year and one day in prison, had been treated "very unfairly."
Trevor Milton
The president pardoned Trevor Milton, the founder of electric vehicle start-up Nikola, in March, who had been sentenced to four years in prison for fraud but remained free pending an appeal.
Prosecutors said that Milton had engaged in a scheme to defraud investors, and he was convicted of two counts of wire fraud and one count of securities fraud.
Milton and his wife were major Trump donors, having donated more than $1.8 million to his re-election campaign, according to the Federal Election Commission.
BitMEX co-founders
In March, Trump also pardoned three co-founders of cryptocurrency exchange BitMEX, Benjamin Delo, Arthur Hayes and Samuel Reed.
The trio had pleaded guilty to violating the Bank Secrecy Act by failing to implement a compliant anti-money laundering program.
Michele Fiore
In March the president issued a pardon for Michele Fiore, who had been convicted of seven counts relating to wire fraud for stealing $70,000 she had collected for a memorial to fallen police officers, and instead used for personal expenses.
She was pardoned before being sentenced.
Paul Walczak
In April, Trump pardoned Paul Walczak, a former nursing home executive convicted of misappropriating over $10 million in employment taxes for personal luxury spending.
The pardon came after lobbying efforts by his mother, Elizabeth Fago, a significant Trump donor. Trump's decision was announced less than three weeks after Fago attended a $1 million-per-person fundraising dinner at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach.
Scott Jenkins
On May 26, Trump announced a pardon of Scott Jenkins, the former sheriff of Culpeper County, Virginia, who was convicted of accepting more than $75,000 in bribes in exchange for appointing individuals as auxiliary deputies.
Jenkins had been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison in 2024. Trump criticized the prosecution as politically motivated and said Jenkins was the "victim of an overzealous" justice department under Biden.
Todd and Julie Chrisley
On May 27, Trump said he planned to pardon reality TV stars Todd and Julie Chrisley, who were convicted in 2022 of several counts of fraud and tax evasion involving over $30 million.
Todd was serving a 12-year sentence, and Julie was serving seven years. Their daughter, Savannah Chrisley, a vocal Trump supporter, had lobbied for their release and received the news of their pardon in a phone call from the president.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


CNN
30 minutes ago
- CNN
Trump lays into Musk, suggesting he has ‘Trump derangement syndrome'
President Donald Trump appeared to confirm the deterioration of his relationship with Elon Musk, saying he was 'very disappointed' in the tech billionaire after Musk repeatedly blasted the president's sweeping domestic agenda bill in recent days. 'Elon and I had a great relationship. I don't know if we will anymore,' Trump told reporters in the Oval Office less than one week after the two exchanged effusive praise on Musk's last day as a special government employee. Since then, Musk has strongly criticized what Trump calls his 'Big, Beautiful Bill' that has passed the House and faces an uncertain path forward in the Senate. On Tuesday, Musk called the bill a 'disgusting abomination.' Trump and Musk have not spoken since Musk lashed out at the legislation, a source familiar with the dynamic told CNN. 'He knew every aspect of this bill. He knew it better than almost anybody, and he never had a problem until right after he left,' Trump said, adding that while Musk has not yet personally attacked him, the president expected that could be next. Trump repeatedly claimed that Musk's concerns with the bill were centered on the repeal of electric vehicle subsidies that benefitted Tesla. Musk has admitted his company has struggled in the wake of his political involvement. Musk didn't wait to respond, posting his reactions in real time on his social media platform X. 'Without me, Trump would have lost the election, Dems would control the House and the Republicans would be 51-49 in the Senate,' Musk said. He added: 'Such ingratitude.' Musk denied Trump's claim that the Tesla CEO knew the inner workings of the bill ahead of time, and countered that the elimination of EV tax incentives has nothing to do with his opposition to the massive domestic policy bill. 'Whatever. Keep the EV/solar incentive cuts in the bill, even though no oil & gas subsidies are touched (very unfair!!), but ditch the MOUNTAIN of DISGUSTING PORK in the bill' Musk in a separate post. 'In the entire history of civilization, there has never been legislation that both big and beautiful. Everyone knows this! Either you get a big and ugly bill or a slim and beautiful bill. Slim and beautiful is the way.' One Republican strategist who has worked closely with the tech billionaire downplayed the idea that Musk's opposition is only about the EV subsidies, telling CNN that Musk was genuinely troubled by projections of how much the bill would add to the deficit – the reasoning Musk has publicly cited on multiple occasions. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office has estimated that the legislation passed by the House would increase the deficit by $2.4 trillion. During Thursday's Oval Office appearance alongside German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Trump reminisced about his campaign bromance with Musk, who contributed at least a quarter-billion dollars to efforts supporting Trump's 2024 presidential bid and once called himself Trump's 'first buddy.' 'Elon endorsed me very strongly. He actually went up and campaigned for me. I think I would have won – Susie would say I would have won Pennsylvania easily anyway,' Trump said, referring to his chief of staff Susie Wiles, appearing to hint at tensions between Wiles and Musk. Trump appeared to moderate his tone at times, saying he 'always liked Elon' – before implicitly accusing him of so-called 'Trump Derangement Syndrome.' 'He's not the first – people leave my administration, and they love us, and then at some point they miss it so badly, and some of them embrace it, and some of them actually become hostile. I don't know what it is. It's sort of 'Trump derangement syndrome,' I guess they call it, but we have it with others too,' he said. 'They leave, and they wake up in the morning, and the glamour is gone,' he continued. 'The whole world is different, and they become hostile. I don't know what it is.' Kristen Holmes contributed to this report.


Newsweek
31 minutes ago
- Newsweek
Trump Tells German Chancellor D-Day Was 'Not A Pleasant Day For You'
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. President Donald Trump told German Chancellor Friedrich Merz that D-Day—the day Allied forces invaded Normandy, France, during World War II—was "not a great day" for Germany. What To Know Trump made his comments while he and Merz spoke to reporters during Merz's White House visit on Thursday. Merz pointed out that the anniversary of D-Day is on Friday, saying it was when "the Americans ... ended the war in Europe." "That was not a pleasant day for you," Trump responded. "No, that was not a pleasant—well—" Merz began before Trump interjected. "This was not a great day," Trump said. Merz cut in: "In the long run, Mr. President, this was the liberation of my country from Nazi dictatorship." "That's true," Trump said. Merz went on to say that "we know what we owe you," adding that the U.S. can play a similarly crucial role in bringing an end to Russia's war against Ukraine. "America is, again, in a very strong position to do something on this war and ending this war, so let's talk about what we can do jointly," the German chancellor said. "We are ready to do what we can and you know that we gave support to Ukraine and that we are looking for more pressure on Russia ... we should talk about that." MERZ: Tomorrow is the D Day anniversary, when the Americans ended a war in Europe TRUMP: That was not a pleasant day for you? This is not a great day MERZ: This was the liberation of my country from Nazi dictatorship — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) June 5, 2025 President Donald Trump, right, meets Germany's Chancellor Friedrich Merz in the Oval Office of the White House, Thursday, June 5, 2025, in Washington. President Donald Trump, right, meets Germany's Chancellor Friedrich Merz in the Oval Office of the White House, Thursday, June 5, 2025, in Washington. Evan Vucci/AP This story is developing and will be updated as more information becomes available.


New York Post
31 minutes ago
- New York Post
Hedge fund titan Ken Griffin rips White House over tax bill
Hedge fund titan Ken Griffin ramped up his war of words with the Trump White House on Wednesday, blasting the president's so-called 'Big, Beautiful' tax bill for adding to Uncle Sam's eye-popping $36 trillion debt pile. The 56-year-old CEO of Citadel, who is worth $42 billion according to Forbes, told the business magazine's annual Iconoclast summit in New York City that if the bill passed, the country would 'unquestionably add several trillion dollars' to the US debt. 'There are a lot of question marks as to why we are continuing to restart tax cuts when we have a fiscal deficit that is this big,' Griffin said at the business magazine's annual Iconoclast summit in lower Manhattan Advertisement 4 Griffin warned that the Trump tax bill will only add to America's debt pile. REUTERS 'The United States' fiscal house is not in order,' Griffin added. 'You cannot run deficits of 6 or 7% at full employment after years of growth. That is just fiscally irresponsible.' Analysis by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office forecasts that there is a $2.4 trillion black hole in the president's flagship tax bill. Griffin, who moved his firm from Chicago to Miami in 2022, likewise warned that the administration should rein in spending and that investors are already worried about America's finances — posing major risks in the bond markets. Advertisement 'US default prices are probably the same as Italy or Greece,' he said, referring to the so-called credit default swap markets where investors can bet on whether someone will fail to pay their bills. The GOP megadonor also took aim at Trump for criticizing Walmart CEO Doug McMillon after he warned of needing to raise prices in response to higher import costs. 'We should not criticize CEOs for being honest, right? And that's all the CEO of Walmart was doing,' he told the audience in lower Manhattan. 'Shame on the administration.' Advertisement The Post has approached the White House for comment. 4 Elon Musk, who has only recently left the Trump administration, has been repeatedly griping about the bill on his social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter. REUTERS More broadly, Griffin lamented the 'uncertainty' that now clouds investment decisions in the US as a result of policies that have 'called into question American exceptionalism.' 'The administration's attempts to use tariffs come at a dear price for the US economy and come at a dear price for the US consumers, who will undoubtedly pay higher prices,' Griffin told the audience at the upmarket Cipriani ballroom on Broadway in lower Manhattan. Advertisement 'Why do we aspire to bring back to the United States jobs that are actually moving out of China into lower-cost jurisdictions? Why are we aspiring to be the nation of the lowest cost and the lowest-paid workforce in the world? That makes no sense to me.' 4 The tariff tiff blew up at the Beverly Hills Hilton where Trump's allies organized a rival VIP welcome party to go up against Griffin's traditional Milken opener. Bloomberg via Getty Images Griffin, who voted for Trump in November's presidential election, has been a staunch critic of his administration's tariff and trade policies since the real estate mogul's second inauguration earlier this year. The row between the two men spilled over at the Milken Institute Global Conference in Beverly Hills last month, where allies of President Trump organized a rival VIP welcome bash to go up against the Citadel supremo's traditional opening reception. Trump unveiled his tariff plans on April 2, which he dubbed Liberation Day, as he sought to renegotiate new trade deals with countries he believed were treating the United States unfairly. 4 Griffin used a Forbes summit to launch a string of broadsides at the Trump administration over its trade and tariff policies. AP The move has since faced a string of legal challenges, with negotiations failing to bear any fruit until now, apart from an agreement with post-Brexit Britain that was announced on May 8. But discussions with the European Union, one of America's largest trading partners, have faltered, as The Post exclusively reported on May 7.