How many people has Trump pardoned compared to other presidents?
Asked by: scraper | Last update: August 17, 2026Score: 0/5 (0 votes)
Donald Trump has granted clemency to approximately 1,800 individuals across his terms in office. While his first term saw a relatively modest 238 clemency actions (143 pardons and 85 commutations), he issued a sweeping mass pardon for more than 1,500 January 6 Capitol rioters.
How many people has Trump pardoned?
Across both his first and second terms, Donald Trump has granted executive clemency—including pardons and commutations—to more than 1,800 individuals.
How many pardons has Trump given vs Obama?
Barack Obama issued exactly 212 individual pardons and 1,715 sentence commutations during his eight years in office. In contrast, Donald Trump has granted clemency to approximately 1,700 people across both his terms, which includes his first-term pardons/commutations and the ~1,500 mass pardons for January 6 defendants.
Which president never pardoned?
Yes, two U.S. presidents—William Henry Harrison and James A. Garfield—never granted a pardon or commutation during their time in office. Both died in office shortly after their inaugurations and did not serve long enough to issue any executive clemency.
Why did Barack Obama pardon so many people?
Obama did so, as one of his final acts in office, in order to reduce what he viewed as overly harsh punishments.
President Trump pardons list of 77 people, including political allies
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 did Clinton pardon?
President Bill Clinton pardoned 396 people and commuted the sentences of an additional 61 individuals during his two terms in office, bringing his total acts of executive clemency to 457.
Are you still a convicted felon if you get a presidential pardon?
Yes, legally you are still considered a felon because a presidential pardon does not erase or expunge the conviction from your criminal record. A pardon serves as an act of forgiveness rather than vindication, leaving the historical fact of the crime intact.
Can anybody override a presidential pardon?
No individual, court, or subsequent president can overturn or revoke a valid, fully delivered presidential pardon. The clemency power is an absolute authority granted by Article II of the U.S. Constitution and is generally not subject to review or interference by the judiciary, Congress, or other government branches.
Who did Obama pardon?
President Barack Obama granted 212 pardons and 1,715 commutations during his two terms in office, largely focusing on non-violent drug offenders serving lengthy sentences. The majority of his pardons were granted to everyday citizens, but he also issued a few high-profile pardons and sentence commutations.
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.
Who all has Trump pardoned?
President Trump has granted executive clemency (including pardons and commutations) to hundreds of individuals across his two presidential terms. His grants have covered a wide range of recipients, spanning political allies, white-collar executives, and convicted individuals.
How popular was Obama as president?
Barack Obama was a polarizing but generally well-regarded president, leaving office with a 59% approval rating. Across his two terms, his approval averaged around 48%. He remains highly popular today, frequently polling as the most well-liked among all living former presidents.
Did Bill Clinton pardon his brother?
Yes, former President Bill Clinton pardoned his half-brother, Roger Clinton Jr., on January 20, 2001, just hours before leaving office.
Does a pardon erase the crime?
A pardon does not erase or expunge the record of conviction. It is, however, an indication of forgiveness and should lessen the stigma of conviction. It is usually helpful in obtaining license, bonding or employment.
Do you have to be found guilty to be pardoned?
No, you do not have to be guilty—or even convicted—to be pardoned, though a pardon is legally interpreted as an act of forgiveness for a crime rather than a declaration of innocence. A pardon can be issued at any time after a crime is committed, including before any charges or convictions occur.
Does accepting a presidential pardon imply guilt?
While legal precedent has historically suggested that accepting a presidential pardon carries an "imputation of guilt" and acts as a confession, it is not an absolute admission of guilt in a practical or legal sense. A pardon represents forgiveness and removes legal consequences, rather than proving actual innocence or functioning as a legally binding admission.
How many total pardons did Biden give?
President Joe Biden issued a total of 80 individual pardons and granted 4,165 sentence commutations during his term, resulting in 4,245 total acts of clemency.
What was the Whitewater scandal about?
The Whitewater scandal was a political controversy in the 1990s centered on the failed 1970s and 1980s real estate investments of Bill and Hillary Clinton and their associates, Jim and Susan McDougal, in the Arkansas-based Whitewater Development Corporation.
What was Rick Hendricks pardoned for?
Rick Hendrick
In 1997, he pleaded guilty to mail fraud in connection with these shenanigans. His sentence included a $250,000 fine, a year of home confinement, three years of probation, and an order to stay away from his racing team. In December 2000, Bill Clinton pardoned Hendrick.
Can a pardon be overruled?
A presidential pardon—no matter how controversial—cannot be overturned. The Constitution gives the pardon power to the executive branch alone, not the legislative branch (Congress) or the judicial branch (federal courts, including the Supreme Court).
Which president never pardoned anyone?
Yes, two U.S. presidents—William Henry Harrison and James A. Garfield—never granted a pardon or commutation during their time in office. Both died in office shortly after their inaugurations and did not serve long enough to issue any executive clemency.
What is the only exception to the president's pardon power?
Constitutional basis
The President ... shall have Power to grant Reprieves and Pardons for Offenses against the United States, except in Cases of impeachment.