Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has made it clear that if he were to be elected president, he would pardon former President Donald Trump if he were to be convicted on the multiple criminal charges he is facing. This statement clarifies any previous ambiguity surrounding DeSantis’ stance on pardoning Trump. The Republican presidential candidate made this announcement during a campaign stop in Iowa, where he was questioned by reporters on whether he would extend a presidential pardon to Trump.[0]
DeSantis’ pledge to pardon Trump is reminiscent of former President Gerald Ford’s decision to pardon Richard Nixon in 1974. Ford’s pardon was criticized at the time, but it was seen as a necessary step to allow the country to move forward.[1] DeSantis believes that pardoning Trump would also be in the best interest of the country, as it would promote unity and stability.
The governor’s remarks about pardoning Trump come after he was asked about the possibility of pardoning Trump supporters who were convicted in the January 6th, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol.[2] DeSantis did not directly address that question but focused on the potential pardon for Trump himself.[3]
DeSantis’ commitment to pardoning Trump has been met with both support and criticism. Former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley has expressed a similar view, suggesting that she would likely pardon Trump if he were to be convicted.[4] However, this viewpoint has stirred controversy within the Republican Party, with some arguing that pardoning Trump would compromise the integrity of the country’s leadership.[4]
Not all voices within the political sphere are in agreement with the idea of pardoning Trump.[0] Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, a known adversary of Trump, cautioned against such a move, stating that it would make the United States “no better than a lot of these tin-pot democracies” around the world.[0]
DeSantis’ pledge to pardon Trump raises questions about the role of the presidential pardon power. The pardon is a powerful tool that can be used to show mercy and rectify injustices. However, critics argue that it should not be used to protect individuals who may have committed serious crimes.
Despite DeSantis’ commitment to pardoning Trump, he still trails behind the former president in national primary polls. Trump’s lead has only expanded in Iowa in recent months, indicating that he remains the frontrunner in the Republican presidential race.[5]
In conclusion, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has made it clear that he would pardon former President Donald Trump if he were to be convicted on the multiple criminal charges he is facing. DeSantis believes that pardoning Trump would be in the best interest of the country, promoting unity and stability. However, this pledge has sparked both support and criticism within the Republican Party.[4] The role of the presidential pardon power and its potential implications for the country’s leadership are also subjects of debate. Despite DeSantis’ commitment to pardoning Trump, he still faces an uphill battle in the Republican primary race against the former president.[3]
0. “Pardon Trump: DeSantis’ clemency ‘ala Ford’ if elected president – Singapore News” The Independent, 1 Jan. 2024, https://theindependent.sg/pardon-trump-desantis-clemency-ala-ford-if-elected-president/
1. “Gov. Ron DeSantis Backs Pardoning Trump If Elected President: ‘Already Said That Long Ago'” HuffPost, 31 Dec. 2023, https://www.huffpost.com/entry/ron-desantis-pardon-donald-trump_n_659109ebe4b0b01d3e40039f
2. “Ron DeSantis ‘would pardon Trump if elected president'” The Times, 1 Jan. 2024, https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/ron-desantis-pardon-trump-elected-president-x7gx5f727
3. “DeSantis mocks Colorado boycott: Trump ‘would spike the football’ if anybody else banned” Raw Story, 27 Dec. 2023, https://www.rawstory.com/desantis-mocks-colorado-boycott-says-if-it-wasnt-him-banned-trump-would-spike-the-foot
4. “DeSantis Ready to Pardon Trump: GOP Debate Ignited” BNN Breaking, 30 Dec. 2023, https://bnnbreaking.com/politics/florida-governor-desantis-indicates-willingness-to-pardon-trump-sparks-gop-debate
5. “DeSantis: Trump ‘fine with weaponization if it’s against people he doesn’t like’” The Hill, 27 Dec. 2023, https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/4379368-desantis-trump-fine-with-weaponization-against-people-he-doesnt-like
