In a fiery start to his presidency, Donald Trump criticized his predecessor, Joe Biden, for issuing preemptive pardons to members of his family and several high-profile political allies. Trump labeled the move as “unfortunate” during an executive order-signing ceremony shortly after his inauguration, setting the stage for a contentious post-election narrative.

On January 20, Biden’s final day in office, he issued a series of controversial pardons, including blanket clemency for his brother, James Biden, and his son, Hunter Biden. James Biden has faced allegations from Republican lawmakers of influence-peddling and providing false statements to Congress. Hunter Biden’s pardon notably expunged his criminal record of a gun crime conviction, sparking outrage from conservative circles.

The former president also extended legal protection to key figures from his administration and the broader political landscape. Among those shielded were Dr. Anthony Fauci, who led the US response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and General Mark Milley, the former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Additionally, members of the congressional committee that investigated the January 6 Capitol riot received pardons, a move critics have denounced as politically motivated.

At an event in Washington’s Capital One Arena, Trump elaborated on his disapproval of Biden’s actions, recounting how he learned about the pardons after his inauguration address. “I finished my speech, and they said, ‘Sir, he pardoned his whole family.’ I said: ‘Oh, can I go back out there and talk about it?’” he told a cheering crowd. Trump assured his supporters that he would address the issue at length in the coming weeks, stating, “We have plenty of time to talk about........

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