President Joe Biden is currently deliberating on whether to grant pardons to individuals who have faced criticism or threats from President-elect Donald Trump. Biden expressed his concerns regarding the rhetoric coming from Trump and his allies, particularly towards political opponents and individuals involved in Trump's legal issues.
Biden emphasized that his decision would be influenced by the language and actions of Trump in the final days of his presidency. He condemned the idea of punishing individuals for not aligning with Trump's personal interests, deeming it as unacceptable.
As Biden's term nears its end, he has been focused on restoring transition norms that were disregarded by his predecessor. However, the potential issuance of preemptive pardons for Trump's critics poses a challenge to the traditional powers of the presidency.
Trump's targets have included prominent figures such as Republican Liz Cheney, Democratic Rep. Bennie Thompson, and special counsel Jack Smith. Biden dismissed the notion of pardoning himself, asserting that he had not committed any wrongdoing.
Former Rep. Adam Kinzinger, a Republican member of the House committee investigating the Capitol insurrection, declined the idea of a pardon from Biden, stating his commitment to revealing the truth.
Biden also criticized Meta's decision to discontinue fact-checking on Facebook, describing it as 'shameful' and contrary to American principles of justice. He expressed concern over the dissemination of false information and emphasized the importance of truth in media.
The move by Meta to replace fact-checking with user-generated 'community notes' coincides with the fourth anniversary of Mark Zuckerberg banning Trump from the platform following the Capitol insurrection.
Biden's remarks underscore his commitment to upholding truth and transparency in the face of challenges posed by misinformation and political polarization.
