Some of the people who received preemptive pardons from President Joe Biden have previously condemned the idea of President Donald Trump issuing such pardons. On Monday, Biden preemptively pardoned Dr. Anthony Fauci, Gen. Mark Milley, and members of the January 6 Committee, including Sen. Adam Schiff (D-CA) and former Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-IL). Kinzinger and Schiff have both claimed in the past that accepting a presidential pardon would amount to an admission of guilt, but both have been quiet after receiving their own preemptive pardons. Just two weeks ago, Kinzinger said on CNN that he didn’t want a pardon because “the second you take a pardon, it looks like you’re guilty of something.” “I’m guilty of nothing besides bringing the truth to the American people and, in the process, embarrassing Donald Trump,” Kinzinger continued. ?Now-pardoned Adam Kinzinger said he didn’t want one two weeks ago: “The second you take a pardon, it looks like you’re guilty of something.”pic.twitter.com/LVqqD7vAnZ — Western Lensman (@WesternLensman) January 20, 2025 Kinzinger said something similar in a social media post on June 23, 2022. “Some of my colleagues failed to uphold that oath & requested pardons from the Trump Administration,” Kinzinger wrote on X. “More to come, but the only reason I know to ask for a pardon is because you think you’ve committed a crime.” As Members, we take an oath to support & defend the Constitution. Some of my colleagues failed to uphold that oath & requested pardons from the Trump Administration. More to come, but the only reason I know to ask for a pardon is because you think you’ve committed a crime. pic.twitter.com/BLKWo5XpUD — Adam Kinzinger (@RepKinzinger) June 23, 2022 Schiff also denounced presidential pardons on July 23, 2020, after Trump pardoned his former political consultant, Roger Stone. In that case, Stone had been investigated, tried, and convicted when Trump pardoned him. Biden’s pardons preempt any investigation or trial. “The power to pardon can be used to right a wrong, give people a second chance, or provide leniency when it’s deserved,” Schiff posted on X. “Or, if you’re Trump, it can be abused to reward a crony who lied to cover up your misconduct. We must prevent future abuse of the pardon power. And we will.” The power to pardon can be used to right a wrong, give people a second chance, or provide leniency when it’s deserved. Or, if you’re Trump, it can be abused to reward a crony who lied to cover up your misconduct. We must prevent future abuse of the pardon power. And we will. https://t.co/MBYumpnT1D — Adam Schiff (@AdamSchiff) July 23, 2020 Fauci thanked Biden for the pardon but claimed he committed no crime – without saying he would reject it. CELEBRATE #47 WITH 47% OFF DAILYWIRE+ MEMBERSHIPS + A FREE $20 GIFT “I really truly appreciate the action President Biden has taken today on my behalf,” Fauci told ABC News chief White House correspondent Jonathan Karl. “Let me be perfectly clear, Jon, I have committed no crime, you know that, and there are no possible grounds for any allegation or threat of criminal investigation or prosecution of me.” Dr. Anthony Fauci tells me he appreciates the pardon, but he committed no crime: “I really truly appreciate the action President Biden has taken today on my behalf. Let me be perfectly clear, Jon, I have committed no crime, you know that, and there are no possible grounds for… — Jonathan Karl (@jonkarl) January 20, 2025 Biden has now preemptively pardoned his son, Hunter, his brothers and sister and their spouses, and political allies who investigated Trump. The pardons come years after Biden himself suggested such pardons were something he would never grant. “Now in terms of the pardons, you’re not going to see in our administration that kind of approach to pardons,” Biden told CNN in 2020. “Nor are you going to see in our administration the approach to making policy by tweets. You know, it’s going to be a totally different way to which we approach the justice system.”

All living former presidents of the United States were joined by their spouses on Monday for Donald Trump’s inauguration as the 47th president — except for Barack Obama, whose wife, Michelle, skipped the ceremony. Mrs. Obama’s absence did not come as a surprise; Barack and Michelle Obama’s office issued a statement last week: “Former President Barack Obama is confirmed to attend the 60th Inaugural Ceremonies. Former first lady Michelle Obama will not attend the upcoming inauguration.” She also skipped the state funeral of former President Jimmy Carter earlier this month. Michelle Obama’s disdain for Americans who do not share her perspective extends as far back as her remarks in February 2008, when her husband was running for the Democratic presidential nomination, and she said, “For the first time in my adult lifetime, I am really proud of my country — and not just because Barack has done well, but because I think people are hungry for change.” CELEBRATE #47 WITH 47% OFF DAILYWIRE+ MEMBERSHIPS + A FREE $20 GIFT Roughly one week before the 2024 election, speaking at a rally for then-Vice President Kamala Harris in Michigan, Obama ripped Americans who didn’t agree with her, saying, “I’ve got to ask myself, well, why on earth is this race even close? I lay awake at night wondering what in the world is going on. And it’s clear to me that the question isn’t whether Kamala is ready for this moment, because, by every measure, she has demonstrated that she’s ready. The real question is, as a country, are we ready for this moment? Are we willing to do what it takes to get her across the finish line, or are we going to let ourselves get distracted and fall for the scam? Are we going to lose sight of the dire consequences if we come up short?” “And right now, folks, I have to be honest, I’m not completely sure of the answers to those questions. Y’all give me great comfort in this arena. But this is a big country, and that’s why all of my hope about Kamala is also accompanied by some genuine fear. Fear for our country. Fear for our children. Fear for what is coming our way if we forget the stakes in this election, she continued.” She ripped Trump, saying of Harris, “She will usher in a new generation of American leadership and send the ugliness of Donald Trump and his politics back where it belongs, the past.”

Now-former President Joe Biden spent his last few hours in office issuing blanket pardons — which he swore in 2020 that he would not do — to a few select people, most of whom he simultaneously claimed were not guilty of any wrongdoing. While a number of critics pointed out the fact that Biden had gone back on his word, most voiced concerns about who had received those pardons and what that said about them — and about Biden. “Biden pardons Milley, Fauci, and J6 Committee. Absolutely Insane and Absolutely Predictable,” podcaster Tim Pool posted. Biden pardons Milley, Fauci, and J6 Committee Absolutely Insane and Absolutely Predictable pic.twitter.com/VgPld782r5 — Tim Pool (@Timcast) January 20, 2025 Drew Holden with American Compass noted the disparity in the way that The New York Times had covered the last-minute pardons issued by Biden compared to those issued by President Donald Trump in January 2020. The former were described by NYT reporter Peter Baker as being issued “to head off politically driven prosecutions.” The latter, as described by Maggie Haberman and Michael Schmidt, were intended “to override courts, juries and prosecutors to apply his own standard of justice for his allies.” NYT on Biden pardons // NYT on Trump pic.twitter.com/KKVBXxTaCi — Drew Holden (@DrewHolden360) January 20, 2025 Journalist Michael Shellenberger took particular issue with the pardon issued to Fauci, saying that any investigations into the origins of the COVID pandemic — and any role Fauci may have played — needed to continue. “Biden pardoned Fauci. He says it’s not an admission of guilt. But if Fauci were innocent, no pardon would be needed. The evidence suggests Fauci helped create the Covid pandemic, and then covered it up. The investigation must go forward. All Covid & Fauci Files must be released,” he wrote. Biden pardoned Fauci. He says it’s not an admission of guilt. But if Fauci were innocent, no pardon would be needed. The evidence suggests Fauci helped create the Covid pandemic, and then covered it up. The investigation must go forward. All Covid & Fauci Files must be released. https://t.co/FkCp0jjMHt — Michael Shellenberger (@shellenberger) January 20, 2025 Attorney Mike Davis shared a reminder that the Biden administration had once painted a very different picture of what a pardon might mean — and what it might say about the person who chose to accept one. CELEBRATE #47 WITH 47% OFF DAILYWIRE+ MEMBERSHIPS + A FREE $20 GIFT “Biden Justice Department tells court an acceptance of pardon is ‘a confession of guilt,'” he said. ICYMI: Biden Justice Department tells court an acceptance of pardon is “a confession of guilt.” pic.twitter.com/TGCA0EUa2e — ?? Mike Davis ?? (@mrddmia) January 20, 2025 “Ask yourself this: Why would Joe Biden pardon Fauci if he wasn’t a criminal who should be locked up for his lies, negligence, & greed that killed innocent Americans? Biden was already going out in shame and disgrace, but this is a new low,” women’s sports advocate Riley Gaines added. Ask yourself this: Why would Joe Biden pardon Fauci if he wasn't a criminal who should be locked up for his lies, negligence, & greed that killed innocent Americans? Biden was already going out in shame and disgrace, but this is a new low. pic.twitter.com/GW8fHyVT6f — Riley Gaines (@Riley_Gaines_) January 20, 2025 “The Fauci and Milley pardons are particular indictments of their behind the scenes work, and the American people deserve to know if they lobbied for them personally from an addled and mentally absent chief executive,” conservative journalist Ben Domenech posted. The Fauci and Milley pardons are particular indictments of their behind the scenes work, and the American people deserve to know if they lobbied for them personally from an addled and mentally absent chief executive. — Ben Domenech (@bdomenech) January 20, 2025 He went on to challenge any journalists who spoke to those who had received pardons to ask specifically about whether they had sought those pardons out: “The next interviews that Fauci, Milley, or J6 Committee members give, all must be asked if they lobbied for these pardons personally and if so, who they lobbied. It’s journalistic malpractice to not ask that question.” The next interviews that Fauci, Milley, or J6 Committee members give, all must be asked if they lobbied for these pardons personally and if so, who they lobbied. It's journalistic malpractice to not ask that question. — Ben Domenech (@bdomenech) January 20, 2025 “So with Joe Biden pardoning Mark Milley, a reminder that Milley was a willing & public participant in the scandalous cover-up of Biden’s lack of physical & mental fitness to be president,” author Jerry Dunleavy said. So with Joe Biden pardoning Mark Milley, a reminder that Milley was a willing & public participant in the scandalous cover-up of Biden’s lack of physical & mental fitness to be president.pic.twitter.com/6wMoWGpv5n — Jerry Dunleavy IV ?? (@JerryDunleavy) January 20, 2025 And from the End Wokeness account: “10 days ago, Biden said he will only pardon individuals who committed crimes. Today he pardoned Fauci, Milley, Cheney, EVERYONE on the J/6th Committee.” 10 days ago, Biden said he will only pardon individuals who committed crimes. Today he pardoned Fauci, Milley, Cheney, EVERYONE on the J/6th Committee. pic.twitter.com/VsJfysYSDQ — End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) January 20, 2025 “Biden’s fitting final act. He pardoned his grifter family. Both brothers, sister, and all three in-laws going all the way back to January 1, 2014, the year the Ukraine grift began and the China grift accelerated. Pre-emptive pardons. Total admission of guilt,” The New York Post’s Miranda Devine added. Biden’s fitting final act. He pardoned his grifter family. Both brothers, sister, and all three in-laws going all the way back to January 1, 2014, the year the Ukraine grift began and the China grift accelerated. Pre-emptive pardons. Total admission of guilt. pic.twitter.com/MPx6iV0hYN — Miranda Devine (@mirandadevine) January 20, 2025 OutKick’s Clay Travis posted one final reminder: “In December of 2020 Joe Biden said you wouldn’t see any pre-emptive pardons in his administration. All Biden did was lie for four years.” In December of 2020 Joe Biden said you wouldn’t see any pre-emptive pardons in his administration. All Biden did was lie for four years: pic.twitter.com/kuOwf9aXmg — Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) January 20, 2025

Rap artist Nelly defended his decision to perform at President Donald Trump’s inaugural ball on Monday night after a host of critics came after him for it. The 50-year-old recording artist is slated to perform alongside country singer Jason Aldean and the Village People on Monday at the Liberty Inaugural Ball, per The Guardian. Nelly’s social media was flooded with negative comments from followers who were furious that he would agree to perform at an event celebrating Trump. Nelly addressed those critics during a conversation with rapper Willie D livestreamed on YouTube Sunday. The artist said he was “not political” and was not “trying to tell anybody who they should vote for” with his actions. “This is not me telling you, ‘Yo, you should vote for this candidate.’ I think you should do your homework and figure out what best helps you and the people who you love and you provide for because I’m clueless on a lot of things when it gets down to it,” Nelly said. “But what I will say is that, I respect the office. This isn’t politics. The politics, for me, is over. [Trump] won! He’s the president. He’s the commander in chief of what I would like to say is the best country in the world … It is an honor for me to perform for the president of the United States, regardless of who is in office.” Nelly went on to clarify that he was performing for the office of the president, not for Trump himself. CELEBRATE #47 WITH 47% OFF DAILYWIRE+ MEMBERSHIPS + A FREE $20 GIFT “If President Biden would’ve asked me to perform, I would’ve performed. If Vice President Kamala Harris would’ve won and asked me to perform, I would’ve performed … I didn’t know that you was riding with me because you thought I would ride for who you voted for. I didn’t know that I had to agree with your political choices. If you follow what I do, this shouldn’t even be an argument.” As for whether he considers himself a Trump supporter, Nelly said, “I support the president of the United States regardless of who is in office. Regardless, I respect the office.” His remarks come after recording artist Carrie Underwood was criticized for performing at Trump’s inauguration ceremony. The “American Idol” winner issued a response, saying, “I love our country and am honored to have been asked to sing at the Inauguration and to be a small part of this historic event.” She added, “I am humbled to answer the call at a time when we must all come together in the spirit of unity and looking to the future.”

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