Biden allegedly mulled a Trump pardon during 2023 Utah visit
A profile of Utah Governor Spencer Cox says President Biden once entertained the idea of pardoning President Trump while in Utah in 2023.
In a feature on Governor Spencer Cox, it is reported that President Biden considered granting a pardon to President Donald Trump during a 2023 trip to Utah. Cox, who has sought to reduce partisan tension, suggested the move might foster unity, prompting Biden to note prior conversations with former first lady Jill Biden about the proposal. At the time, Trump was under several federal indictments related to classified documents.
Despite Biden’s expressed willingness to review the idea, no pardon materialized, and the legal cases were eventually dropped after Trump secured victory in the 2024 general election. The White House and Biden’s staff offered no response to the claims. The story was published by one outlet, and no official comment was provided.
Why it matters
It reveals a high-level discussion about using presidential clemency to address political polarization.
In this story
