How many pardons did Trump give on his first term?
Asked by: Hudson Dibbert | Last update: May 18, 2026Score: 5/5 (45 votes)
Number of pardons Overall, Trump granted fewer clemencies than many of the modern presidents during his first term. Since 1921, only two Presidents granted clemency on fewer occasions than Trump. In Trump's first term, he granted clemency 237 times, compared with about 78 by George H. W.
Did Trump pardon Rudy Giuliani?
In April 2024, he was indicted on charges related to the 2020 election in Arizona. He was later disbarred in the state of New York in July, and in the District of Columbia in September. In November 2025, Trump pardoned Giuliani.
Did Trump pardon Charles Kushner?
Yes, Donald Trump pardoned Charles Kushner (father of Jared Kushner) in December 2020, commuting his sentence for convictions including tax evasion, witness tampering, and illegal campaign contributions from 2005. The pardon came in the final days of Trump's presidency and covered charges related to his scheme to intimidate his brother-in-law, who was cooperating with federal investigators.
How many pardons can each President give?
There are no limits to how many people the President may pardon. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, for example, pardoned 2,819 individuals during his time in office – more than any other President. President Barack Obama pardoned 212 individuals during his time in office.
How many pardons did Trump give out in 2020?
Trump issued a total of 144 pardons during his first four years in office: 1 in 2017, 6 in 2018, 11 in 2019, 52 in 2020, and 74 in January 2021.
Why Donald Trump Pardoned Kodak Black
How many pardons did Barack Obama hand out?
Of the acts of clemency, 1,715 were commutations (including 504 life sentences) and 212 were pardons. Most individuals granted executive clemency by Obama had been convicted on drug charges, and had received lengthy and sometimes mandatory sentences at the height of the war on drugs.
Did Donald Trump pardon anyone?
Among the most prominent far-right leaders granted clemency by Trump were Enrique Tarrio of the Proud Boys (Trump granted him a pardon, eliminating his 22-year sentence for seditious conspiracy) and Stewart Rhodes (Trump commuted his 18-year sentence to time served); both were immediately released from federal prison.
Who did Kim Kardashian get Trump to pardon?
Kim Kardashian advocated for Alice Marie Johnson, a woman serving a life sentence for a nonviolent drug offense, leading to President Donald Trump commuting her sentence in 2018 and later granting her a full pardon in 2020, a case that launched Kardashian's criminal justice reform efforts and eventually led to Johnson's appointment as a "pardon czar".
Was Jared Kushner involved in the Abraham Accords?
Yes, Jared Kushner was a key architect and negotiator of the Abraham Accords during the Trump administration, playing a central role in normalizing relations between Israel and several Arab nations like the UAE, Bahrain, Morocco, and Sudan. He leveraged his established relationships in the region to facilitate the deals, which boosted Middle East security, stability, and trade.
Why did Trump pardon Desiree Perez?
Donald Trump pardoned Roc Nation CEO Desiree Perez in January 2021, citing her decades of rehabilitation, successful career at Roc Nation, and advocacy for criminal justice reform, noting she had fully accounted for her past drug conspiracy conviction and turned her life around. The White House statement emphasized her transformation from her 1994 conviction for drug distribution, highlighting her subsequent employment, leadership, and commitment to positive change.
Was Rudy Giuliani a good mayor?
Rudy Giuliani's time as New York City Mayor is viewed as transformative by supporters, who credit him with drastically cutting crime, revitalizing the city's economy, and providing strong leadership during 9/11. Critics, however, point to controversial policing tactics, such as aggressive "stop-and-frisk," racial bias concerns, and crackdowns on minor offenses, while acknowledging his significant crime reduction and crisis management skills.
Who is the US pardon Attorney?
Office of the Pardon Attorney | Pardon Attorney Edward R. Martin Jr. United States Department of Justice.
Why did Obama give so many pardons?
President Obama granted many pardons and commutations (sentence reductions) primarily to address the disproportionately harsh sentences for non-violent drug crimes, especially those under the old crack cocaine laws, aiming for a fairer system and second chances for rehabilitated individuals, while also reducing federal prison overcrowding, leveraging the Fair Sentencing Act of 2010 to grant relief. He focused on inmates who had served significant time, showed good conduct, and would have received lighter sentences today, viewing clemency as a tool to remedy systemic unfairness.
Who cannot be pardoned by the president?
The President of the United States may pardon anyone who commits a federal offense against the United States. They may also pardon anyone who commits a federal offense against the District of Columbia. The president cannot grant pardons for violations of state laws.
How many pardons did Bill Clinton give?
President Bill Clinton granted pardons or commutations to 459 people during his two terms, with a significant number, around 140, issued in a controversial batch on his final day in office in January 2001, bringing his total to a higher number than recent predecessors.
Does a pardon erase the crime?
A pardon has many benefits, but it does not erase your criminal history. Potential employers will still see the conviction when performing a background check, and the criminal record will appear in all publicly accessible databases.
Why is Kim Kardashian supporting Menendez Brothers?
The brothers, she wrote, were “robbed of their childhoods by their parents, then robbed of any chance of freedom by a criminal justice system eager to punish them without considering the context or understanding the 'why', and without caring about whether the punishment fit the crime, Erik and Lyle were condemned ...
Did Kim pass the law bar?
No, Kim Kardashian has not yet passed the full California Bar Exam; she failed the July 2025 exam and publicly shared her results in November 2025, vowing to keep studying, though she previously passed the First-Year Law Students' Examination (Baby Bar) in 2021. She's said she came "so close" and is determined to pass, viewing the setback as motivation for future attempts.
How many pardons can a US President give out?
In Ex parte Garland (1867), the U.S. Supreme Court confirmed the "unlimited" nature of federal pardons (except for impeachment cases) and broadened its scope to include offenses for which legal proceedings have not been initiated.
Can a President pardon themselves?
O.L.C. Supp. 370, 370 (1974) (opining during the Nixon Administration that a President may not pardon himself based on the fundamental rule that no one may be a judge in his own case ).
What is the difference between a pardon and clemency?
Clemency is the broad umbrella term for mercy from a criminal conviction, while a pardon is a specific type of clemency that forgives the offense, wiping out most legal consequences and restoring rights, whereas other clemency forms like commutation only reduce the punishment (like sentence length) without forgiving the crime, leaving the conviction on the record. Think of it this way: all pardons are clemency, but not all clemency is a pardon.
Did Biden pardon his brother?
Pardon by Joe Biden
On January 20, 2025, President Joe Biden issued a pardon for James, along with their other siblings and their spouses.
What are Obama's biggest achievements?
Barack Obama's biggest accomplishments include passing the Affordable Care Act (ACA) to expand health insurance, leading the economic recovery after the 2008 crisis with stimulus and banking reforms, authorizing the raid that killed Osama bin Laden, enacting climate and clean energy policies, appointing historic Supreme Court justices, and ending "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" in the military, enabling openly gay service.