Honestly, the power to wipe a criminal record clean with a single signature is probably the most "king-like" thing a U.S. President can do. It's absolute. No appeals, no take-backs. Since returning to the White House in January 2025, the question of who has Donald Trump pardoned has become a daily headline, but the sheer volume of names—from high-profile political allies to thousands of individuals tied to a single event—makes it hard to keep track of.
The strategy has changed. During his first term, pardons were often trickle-fed, favoring celebrities like Lil Wayne or political figures like Roger Stone. Now? It’s about "mass reconciliation." On his very first day back, January 20, 2025, Trump issued a blanket pardon for roughly 1,500 people involved in the January 6 Capitol riot. That single stroke of the pen fundamentally shifted the legal landscape of the country.
The 2025 Wave: Mass Pardons and Political Allies
If you’re looking for a specific list, it's getting long. Really long. As of early 2026, the count for his second term alone has surged past 1,800 acts of clemency. It's not just about the numbers, though; it's about the intent.
Take the November 7, 2025, announcement. Trump issued a mass pardon for 77 people involved in the so-called "fake electors" scheme from the 2020 election. We're talking about names that have been in the news for years:
- Rudy Giuliani: The former NYC mayor and Trump’s personal attorney.
- Mark Meadows: Former White House Chief of Staff.
- Sidney Powell and Jenna Ellis: Key lawyers from the 2020 legal challenges.
- John Eastman: The law professor behind the controversial electoral strategy.
Basically, if you were in the inner circle during the 2020 election disputes, you likely have a "Get Out of Jail Free" card now. Trump’s new Pardon Attorney, Ed Martin—who replaced career official Liz Oyer—explicitly stated the goal was "No MAGA left behind."
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The Crypto and Business Contingent
It’s not all about politics. There’s a huge financial and crypto angle that often gets buried. In May 2025, Trump pardoned Changpeng Zhao (CZ), the founder of Binance, who had previously pleaded guilty to anti-money laundering violations. He also cleared the "BitMEX Bros"—Arthur Hayes, Benjamin Delo, Samuel Reed, and Gregory Dwyer—who were tied to Bank Secrecy Act violations.
Then there's Ross Ulbricht. For years, the "Free Ross" campaign was a staple of Libertarian circles. Ulbricht, the creator of the Silk Road marketplace, was serving a double life sentence plus forty years. On January 21, 2025, Trump finally followed through on his campaign promise and gave him a full pardon.
Who Has Donald Trump Pardoned from the First Term?
To understand the current vibe, you’ve gotta look back at the "Class of 2017-2021." That first term saw 143 pardons and 94 commutations. It was a mix of classic "pardon applications" and high-drama interventions.
- Michael Flynn: The former National Security Advisor.
- Paul Manafort: His former campaign chairman.
- Charles Kushner: His son-in-law Jared’s father (who, interestingly, was recently appointed as U.S. Ambassador to France and Monaco).
- Joe Arpaio: The controversial Arizona Sheriff, who received one of Trump’s earliest pardons.
- Alice Marie Johnson: This was a big one. Kim Kardashian lobbied for her release after she served 21 years for a nonviolent drug offense. Today, Alice Marie Johnson actually serves as Trump’s "Pardon Czar," helping him pick who gets clemency next.
The Difference Between a Pardon and a Commutation
Kinda important to keep these straight. A pardon is a total legal "undo" button. It restores rights like voting or owning a gun. A commutation just shortens the time someone spends in prison but keeps the conviction on the record.
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For example, Trump commuted the sentence of George Santos, the disgraced former Congressman, in late 2025. Santos had his seven-year sentence cut short after serving just three months, but he's still a "convicted felon" in the eyes of the law.
Surprising Names and Controversies
Some pardons don't make the front page but tell a bigger story.
- Juan Orlando Hernández: The former President of Honduras was pardoned in December 2025. This was massive because he had been convicted in a high-profile drug trafficking case.
- Todd and Julie Chrisley: The reality TV stars were pardoned in May 2025 after being convicted of bank fraud and tax evasion.
- Tina Peters: The former Colorado clerk convicted in connection with a 2021 voting system breach received her pardon in December 2025.
- The FACE Act Defendants: In early 2025, Trump pardoned 24 anti-abortion protesters, including Lauren Handy, who had been convicted of blocking access to a D.C. clinic.
Why This Matters for 2026 and Beyond
The sheer scale of these pardons has created a weird ripple effect in the government. There are reports that some of the 1,500 pardoned January 6 defendants have actually been hired by the administration, specifically in agencies like ICE. This has sparked huge debates in Congress, with members like Jamie Raskin asking for records on who is being "integrated" back into federal service.
Critics argue this "weaponizes" the pardon power to reward loyalty. Supporters say it's "national reconciliation" and a way to stop what they call political prosecutions.
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Regardless of where you stand, it's clear the old way of doing things—waiting years for a DOJ review—is dead. If you want to know who has Donald Trump pardoned, the answer is increasingly "anyone he feels was treated unfairly by the system."
Actionable Insights: What You Can Do
If you are following a specific case or looking to understand how clemency works today, here are the best steps:
- Monitor the DOJ Office of the Pardon Attorney: While Trump often bypasses the traditional route, the official "Clemency Grants" page is still the legal record of truth for names and dates.
- Watch the Civil Side: Keep an eye on the SEC and other civil agencies. Often, a pardon is followed by these agencies dropping civil lawsuits, which can mean defendants don't have to pay back millions in restitution to victims.
- Check State vs. Federal: Remember, a Trump pardon only works for federal crimes. If someone is being prosecuted in Georgia or New York state courts, a presidential pardon can't touch those charges.
The landscape of American justice is being rewritten through the pardon power. Whether you see it as a correction of a "weaponized" system or a bypass of the rule of law, the list of names continues to grow every week.