President-elect Donald Trump’s plan to pardon individuals involved in the January 6 Capitol riot may stir up controversy among both his political opponents and supporters, according to conservative analyst Jonah Goldberg. Speaking on CNN’s Jake Tapper Reports on Thursday, Goldberg pointed out the challenges Trump faces in balancing the expectations of his base with the political fallout that may result from his proposed actions.
In a recent TIME Magazine interview, Trump suggested he would pardon many of the individuals involved in the Capitol breach. However, he also made it clear that each case would be reviewed individually, potentially limiting the scope of the pardons.
“I’ll be looking at J6 early on, maybe the first nine minutes,” Trump said, referring to his initial days in office. “I’m going to do case by case and if they were nonviolent, I think they’ve been greatly punished. I’m going to look if there’s some that really were out of control,” he added, leaving open the possibility that only nonviolent offenders would be granted clemency.
CNN’s Jake Tapper, who reported on Trump’s comments, turned to Goldberg for his reaction. “Trump’s reaffirming what he said he would do during the campaign, and the American people elected him. But what’s your reaction that this is, you know, a priority in the first nine minutes of his presidency?” Tapper asked.
Goldberg responded by noting the complexity of Trump’s position. “Look, I mean, these guys were the Trump Tabernacle Choir at his rallies, right? The January 6th guys,” Goldberg said. “But there are a lot of caveats to this, right? He is — there are a lot of people who think everybody’s going to get a pardon. And he’s saying if they were nonviolent if they were excessive, they would go case by case.”
Goldberg warned that Trump’s approach could alienate both sides of the debate. “I think it has the potential of pissing off a lot of people who think no one should get a pardon, and pissing off a lot of people who think everyone should get a pardon,” he said. “So it’s more fraught for him than I think people are appreciating.”
Trump’s comments about pardoning those involved in the January 6 attack reflect the ongoing political divide surrounding the Capitol insurrection, and his actions could have significant consequences for his relationship with both his supporters and critics.