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Trump’s Day 1 Promise Rattles The Left

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They are not prepared for this.

In a recent interview with NBC’s Kristen Welker, President-elect Donald Trump outlined his plan to address the January 6 rioters, promising to act quickly on pardons if he returns to office. Trump reiterated his long-held position that the individuals who stormed the Capitol should not have been subjected to harsh penalties, and he committed to reviewing their cases on day one of his presidency.

“I’m going to look at everything. We’ll look at individual cases,” Trump told Welker. “But I’m going to be acting very quickly.” The former president was clear that the rioters, some of whom have been imprisoned for over three years, have endured conditions that he described as “filthy” and unacceptable. He expressed his intention to make swift pardons a priority, emphasizing that they should not have been held for so long.

Trump had previously mentioned the possibility of issuing pardons for the January 6 participants during his campaign. When Welker asked about the timing, he confidently stated, “First day, I’m looking first day.” He added, “These people have been there — how long is it? Three, four years,” highlighting the prolonged suffering of those involved in the Capitol protest.

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The topic of pardons also brought up broader discussions about the political environment under the Biden administration. Trump criticized the January 6 Committee, calling for those involved in its investigations to be held accountable. “For what they did, honestly, they should go to jail,” Trump asserted. He also made it clear that while he wouldn’t personally direct the FBI to target individuals like Liz Cheney, he believed the committee’s actions warranted serious scrutiny.

Trump’s comments come amid growing concerns over the potential for partisan abuse of the pardon power. Critics have pointed to President Biden’s recent pardon of his son, Hunter Biden, as an example of how political favoritism can undermine the credibility of the justice system. With Hunter Biden facing legal scrutiny, his father’s pardon has raised questions about fairness, especially as some worry it could set a precedent for future political pardons.

While Trump’s position on January 6 has garnered significant attention, it also underscores his broader commitment to addressing perceived political bias and fighting back against what he sees as a deeply flawed justice system. For many conservatives, Trump’s pledge to pardon the Capitol rioters signals his willingness to take decisive action in restoring fairness to a system they believe has been hijacked by partisanship. As Trump moves forward with his campaign, these issues are likely to remain a central theme in his platform.