Well, if there were any doubts about how bitter the political climate has become, Joe Biden’s last-minute flurry of preemptive pardons just erased them. In an extraordinary move that screams both desperation and defiance, the outgoing president issued blanket pardons to high-profile figures like Dr. Anthony Fauci, retired General Mark Milley, and lawmakers from the January 6 Committee. Biden framed it as a shield against “politically motivated investigations,” but let’s call it what it is: a direct shot at President-elect Donald Trump’s promises of “retribution.” The stage is now set for one of the most contentious transitions of power in modern U.S. history.
First, let’s break down the players here. You’ve got Anthony Fauci, the face of COVID policy during the pandemic. To his critics, Fauci became a symbol of bureaucratic overreach, flip-flopping guidance, and federal mismanagement. Trump and many Republicans have repeatedly suggested that Fauci should face accountability for decisions made under his watch. Then there’s General Mark Milley, a man who’s no stranger to controversy.
From his handling of the Afghanistan withdrawal to his reported efforts to “check” Trump during his first term, Milley has been a lightning rod for conservative ire. Add to the list former members of the January 6 Committee, including Liz Cheney and Bennie Thompson, who were instrumental in investigating Trump’s alleged role in the Capitol riot. It’s no surprise that these figures are targets of Trump’s wrath, and Biden’s pardon is a clear attempt to preempt any legal fallout from Trump’s return to power.
Biden pardoning Fauci just concedes that democrats know Fauci lied to the American public and more than likely committed pretty severe criminal behavior during that time.
America will always deserve answers for what he put us through and destroyed during Covid.
— Meghan McCain (@MeghanMcCain) January 20, 2025
The timing of this move is stunning, even by Washington standards. Just hours before Trump is sworn in for his second term, Biden dropped what feels like a political grenade. His reasoning? The supposed threat of “baseless and politically motivated investigations” under Trump’s administration. While Democrats frame this as a protective measure for public servants, it also smacks of a tacit admission that they expect Trump to follow through on his promises to go after his political enemies. Biden’s pardons don’t exactly scream confidence in the justice system—or in his own legacy.
If there was ever any doubt as to who bears responsibility for the COVID pandemic, Biden’s pardon of Fauci forever seals the deal.
As Chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee I will not rest until the entire truth of the coverup is exposed.…
— Rand Paul (@RandPaul) January 20, 2025
Naturally, Trump wasted no time firing back, calling the pardons “disgraceful” and accusing the recipients of “MAJOR CRIMES.” That’s Trump in a nutshell: never one to shy away from pouring gasoline on an already roaring fire. His supporters are likely to view these pardons as an admission of guilt, despite Biden’s insistence that they’re not. After all, who needs a pardon if they haven’t done anything wrong? For Trump, this isn’t just about policy—it’s personal, and it’s a golden opportunity to rally his base.
🚨BREAKING: Biden has preemptively pardoned Fauci, Milley, and members of the January 6 Committee.
pic.twitter.com/ECnTfNReWK— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) January 20, 2025
But let’s not gloss over how this looks to the average American. Pardoning people like Fauci and Milley—who, whether you agree with their actions or not, were deeply polarizing figures—adds fuel to an already raging partisan inferno. And the January 6 Committee lawmakers? Their “investigation” into Trump’s role in the Capitol riot was seen by many as little more than a political witch hunt designed to keep him out of office. Pardoning them only deepens the divide between those who believe they were heroes defending democracy and those who view them as partisans exploiting their positions for political gain.
Even within Biden’s own party, the move isn’t universally supported. Senator Adam Schiff, himself a lightning rod for controversy, warned against setting a precedent for preemptive blanket pardons. He’s right to raise concerns. What does it say about the state of our republic when one president feels compelled to issue mass pardons to prevent the next one from investigating political adversaries? It’s an acknowledgment of just how broken and vengeful our political system has become.
Doctor Anthony Fauci tells me he is “grateful” for the pardon he received from President Biden, noting he had just received word from his attorney this morning that the pardon had gone through.
“It feels good and I’m grateful to the president for doing it,” Dr. Fauci said in a…
— Jim Acosta (@Acosta) January 20, 2025
