The media’s reaction to President Trump’s recent pardons of individuals connected to the January 6 Capitol protests has been nothing short of astonishing. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) offered a refreshing dose of reality when questioned about the matter, reminding reporters that President Biden had been in office until very recently. This simple fact seems to have escaped the media’s attention, as they conveniently forget the numerous questionable pardons issued by Biden during his final hours in office.
Thune’s response was a masterclass in handling the media, as he deftly sidestepped the bait and instead highlighted the hypocrisy of the situation. “I’m not familiar with every executive action President Trump took on his first day back in office,” Thune said during a press conference on Capitol Hill. “But we’ve said all along that Biden opened the door on this.” He was, of course, referring to Biden’s last-minute pardons of his son, Hunter Biden, and several other family members, a move that reeked of cronyism and abuse of power.
As Cristina Corujo tweeted, “Leader Thune when asked about the Jan6 pardons: “I haven’t seen all the stuff the EOs that he signed yet, so. We said all along Biden opened the door on this.” pic.twitter.com/aapEixhSwC” This tweet encapsulates the essence of Thune’s argument, which is that Biden’s actions set a precedent that Trump has simply followed.
The double standards at play are staggering. Democrats are apoplectic over Trump’s pardons, decrying them as a threat to democracy, while remaining eerily silent about Biden’s own pardons, which were clearly self-serving and politically motivated. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and his colleagues have been conspicuous in their absence, failing to condemn Biden’s blatant abuse of power.
Social media has been abuzz with support for Thune’s straightforward response, with many pointing out the left’s glaring hypocrisy when it comes to justice and accountability. The reality is straightforward: Biden used the pardon power to shield his inner circle, and Democrats had no qualms about it. However, when Trump utilizes the same power to rectify the injustices of politically motivated prosecutions, it suddenly becomes a catastrophe for democracy.
Thune’s message is clear: if Democrats wish to express outrage over Trump’s pardons, they must first take a long, hard look at their own reflection. The media’s selective amnesia and the Democrats’ hypocrisy are on full display, and it is refreshing to see leaders like Thune calling them out on it. By highlighting the inconsistencies in the media’s narrative and the Democrats’ actions, Thune has shed light on the brutal truth that they would rather ignore.
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