Former President Donald Trump has reignited a national debate following his first interview since leaving office, where he defended his controversial pardons related to the January 6 insurrection. Trump boasted about his involvement in a song titled "Justice for All," which he claimed became a number one hit. He also addressed his decision to pardon over 1,500 individuals charged with crimes linked to the Capitol attack, describing some of these actions as involving "very minor incidents." The former president's remarks have drawn criticism from various quarters, including major police unions and political figures.
In his latest interview, Trump highlighted his contribution to the song "Justice for All," which he claimed topped the Billboard charts, echoing his belief that the track resonated with many.
“It was the number one selling song, number one on Billboard, number one on everything for so long. People get it. They wanted to see those people.” – Donald Trump
Trump further asserted that he could have pursued substantial legal action against Hillary Clinton during his presidency but chose not to, suggesting restraint in that regard.
“You know, I was always against that with presidents and Hillary Clinton. I could have had Hillary Clinton – a big number done on her.” – Donald Trump
Meanwhile, backlash from two major police unions has emerged over Trump's pardons and commutations. These unions expressed disappointment, particularly as over 250 individuals convicted of assault charges, including those who attacked police officers, were pardoned. Critics argue that these pardons served as a loyalty test for the Republican Party.
Despite the controversy, Trump maintained that some perpetrators involved in the Capitol riots were merely part of "very minor incidents." He seemed to downplay the severity of their actions.
“Some of those people with the police – true – but they were very minor incidents, OK, you know, they get built up by that couple of fake guys that are on CNN all the time. They were very minor incidents and it was time.” – Donald Trump
He further criticized the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), accusing them of neglecting their duties over the past four years. Trump claimed that FEMA was inefficient during his administration but attributed this to a lack of appropriate leadership.
“Fema has not done their job for the last four years. You know, I had Fema working really well. We had hurricanes in Florida, we had Alabama tornadoes. But unless you have certain types of leadership, it gets in the way. And Fema is going to be a whole big discussion very shortly, because I’d rather see the states take care of their own problems.” – Donald Trump
Trump also criticized current President Joe Biden's handling of pardons, suggesting that Biden had received poor advice from his advisers and targeting figures like Gen Mark Milley and Dr. Anthony Fauci.
“Joe Biden has very bad advisers. Somebody advised Joe Biden to give pardons to everybody but him … Joe Biden had very bad advice.” – Donald Trump
In a striking revelation, Trump's adviser reportedly expressed frustration over the pardons process during his tenure, allegedly stating "F–k it: Release 'em all" in relation to the January 6-related pardons.
The pardons issued by Trump have been scrutinized as they include individuals linked to significant acts of violence during the insurrection. Yet, Trump defended these decisions by citing his personal experiences with legal challenges and victories.
“Well, I went through four years of hell by this scum that we had to deal with. I went through four years of hell. I spent millions of dollars in legal fees, And I won. But I did it the hard way. It’s really hard to say that they shouldn’t have to go through it all.” – Donald Trump
Additionally, Trump accused those who prosecuted him of bias and suggested they warrant investigation themselves. This notion aligns with his ongoing narrative surrounding alleged election fraud and claims of unfair treatment.
“They were protesting the vote because they knew the election was rigged and they were protesting the vote and you should be allowed to protest the vote,” – Donald Trump
Looking ahead, Trump plans to embark on his first presidential trip post-inauguration to assess storm damage in North Carolina and wildfires in Los Angeles. This visit underscores his continued involvement in national affairs despite no longer occupying the Oval Office.