Fact check: What was the controversy surrounding Trump's last-minute pardons before leaving office?

1. Summary of the results

The original question about Trump's last-minute pardons appears to be mixing two different presidential administrations' pardon controversies. According to the sources, Trump's most recent pardons (as of 2025) included 24 individuals, potentially erasing $1.3 billion in fines and restitution ^[1]. Notable recipients included Devon Archer, Carlos Watson, and Todd and Julie Chrisley ^[1]. From his first term, Trump notably pardoned Lil Wayne and Kodak Black in January 2021 ^[2].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

Several crucial contextual elements need to be considered:

• Trump's pardon strategy has been characterized by legal scholars as systematically rewarding loyalists and protecting potential witnesses against him ^[3]
• The current controversy extends to Biden's recent pardons of multiple family members, including James B. Biden, Sara Jones Biden, Valerie Biden Owens, and others ^[4]
• Biden's pardons also extended to high-profile political figures like Liz Cheney and Dr. Anthony Fauci, though these pardons do not protect against compelled testimony or perjury prosecution ^[5]
• Trump has launched investigations into Biden's pardons, questioning their legitimacy and Biden's mental capacity when issuing them ^[6]

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The question itself contains inherent bias by:

• Focusing solely on Trump's pardons while ignoring the broader context of presidential pardon controversies
• Not acknowledging that pardon controversies are bipartisan in nature, with both Trump and Biden using pardons in ways that benefit their allies and family members
• Different groups benefit from different narratives:
• Trump's supporters benefit from focusing on Biden's family pardons ^[4]
• Biden's allies benefit from characterizing his pardons as protection against potential Trump actions ^[5]
• Legal scholars benefit from positioning themselves as neutral arbiters of constitutional propriety ^[3]

The reality is that presidential pardons have become increasingly controversial, with both administrations using them in ways that raise significant ethical and legal questions.