Trump's secret mass pardoning plot revealed as he plans to use the power even more liberally

Published: 01:19, 12 April 2026 | Updated: 01:19, 12 April 2026 President Donald Trump has reportedly promised his top advisors he will 'pardon everyone who has come within 200 feet of the Oval,' before leaving office. A White House insider told the Wall Street Journal that the president announced that he would use his power in a recent meeting. No details were given about who might benefit from the sweeping pardons, but they are an increase on the start of the year, when the president reportedly pledged them for anyone who had come within ten feet of the Oval Office. The President told aides gathered in his private dining room that he would announce the pardons during a news conference near the conclusion of his term, according to the sources. However White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt brushed off the report: 'The Wall Street Journal should learn to take a joke. 'However, the president's pardon power is absolute.' The president notably gave nearly 1,600 people blanket pardons to those involved in the January 6 riot on the first day of his second term in office, which took place in 2025. The White House described the January 6 defendants as 'unfairly targeted, overcharged, and used as political examples.' President Donald Trump promised his top advisors he will issue sweeping pardon before leaving office a White House insider told the Wall Street Journal President Donald Trump signing documents in January of 2025, issuing executive orders and pardons for January 6 defendants in the Oval Office Trump pardoned nearly 1,600 defendants and issued six commutations for the January 6 riots Trump has granted clemency to roughly 1,800 people since the beginning of his second term. It is a stark increase on his first term when he signed fewer than 250 pardons and commutations. Former President Joe Biden pardoned many in his final moments in office in January 2025. Biden sparked fury as he issued preemptive pardons for Dr Anthony Fauci and all nine members of the January 6 Committee. The 83-year-old Democrat also used his final moments in the Oval Office to give blanket protection to former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley, who Trump has said deserves to be executed. At the time, Trump's initial reaction was to tell NBC's Kristen Welker that the pardons were 'disgraceful.' Former President Joe Biden signed a pardon for his troubled son Hunter. He was pardoned for any crimes he may have committed from January 1, 2014, through December 1, 2024 'Many are guilty of MAJOR CRIMES!' he wrote in a text to the anchor. January 6 panel Chairman Rep Bennie Thompson and former Republican Rep Liz Cheney were included in the pardon sweep, giving them immunity from any future actions by Trump's Department of Justice. Biden also announced in December of 2024 that he would issue a presidential pardon for his troubled son Hunter, calling his prosecution 'selective' and 'unfair.' Hunter was pardoned for any crimes he may have committed from January 1, 2014, through December 1, 2024. The pardon was announced just weeks after the White House denied the president would make the drastic move in the final months of his presidency. The Daily Mail has reached out to the White House for comment.  No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline. To do this we will link your MailOnline account with your Facebook account. We’ll ask you to confirm this for your first post to Facebook. You can choose on each post whether you would like it to be posted to Facebook. Your details from Facebook will be used to provide you with tailored content, marketing and ads in line with our Privacy Policy.