During President Donald Trump's first term in the 2018 midterm elections, Democrats flipped more than 40 U.S. House seats

Overview Debates Related claims Topics Sources

President Donald Trump cited former President Joe Biden's preemptive pardons as precedent to justify using presidential clemency to protect administration personnel from future legal costs

On October 24, 2026, President Donald Trump verbally reassured White House advisor Margo Martin that she would not have to worry about facing costly legal battles

On October 24, 2026, the Washington Sun reported that White House attorneys were evaluating whether to issue preemptive pardons to lower-ranking administration officials

On October 24, 2026, President Donald Trump stated he has the constitutional authority to grant preemptive pardons to White House staffers to shield them from potential investigations

White House attorney deliberations reported by The Washington Sun regarding preemptive pardons have focused on shielding officials involved in sensitive policy areas including immigration, trade, and military operations

President Donald Trump granted clemency to approximately 1,500 individuals convicted in connection with the January 6, 2021 Capitol riot

During President Donald Trump's first term, he granted pardons to political allies including Michael Flynn, Roger Stone, and Steve Bannon

In October 2025, President Donald Trump commuted the fraud sentence of former Republican Representative George Santos less than three months into his prison term

White House attorneys, according to The Washington Sun, consider a blanket pardon covering all junior staffers unlikely, favoring potential protections grouped by specific policy responsibilities

Democratic Representative Mike Levin advocated for a constitutional amendment to restrict presidential clemency and prohibit self-pardons, which requires two-thirds congressional support and state ratification

President Donald Trump pardoned former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández, who was serving a 45-year sentence following a federal drug trafficking conviction

Tennessee Democrat Steve Cohen sponsored the proposed constitutional amendment restricting presidential pardons alongside co-sponsors Ted Lieu, Suzanne Bonamici, and Henry Johnson

Presidential pardons apply exclusively to federal criminal offenses and do not prevent congressional investigations or political scrutiny

High gas prices and rising living costs driven by the U.S. war on Iran, ongoing since February, have put Republicans on the defensive ahead of the November 3, 2026 midterm elections

Barack Obama mocked White House renovations under President Donald Trump during October 24, 2026, campaign speeches, comparing the decor to a Cheesecake Factory opened by Saddam Hussein

Former President Barack Obama began his 2026 midterm election campaigning on October 24, 2026, holding rallies in Cleveland, Ohio, and Detroit, Michigan, to support Democratic candidates

Barack Obama criticized War Secretary Pete Hegseth during an October 24, 2026, speech, alleging Hegseth focuses excessively on military personal appearance rather than governance

During October 24, 2026, rallies, Barack Obama criticized President Donald Trump over rising consumer costs, tariffs on Canadian goods, and military involvement in Iran

Former President Barack Obama headlined an October 24, 2026, get-out-the-vote campaign rally in Detroit for Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed

At an October 24, 2026, Detroit rally, Barack Obama stated that Democrats can disagree on policy details while remaining united behind shared goals like healthcare access and living wages