Cox Says Biden Weighed a Trump Pardon

Businessperson refusing an envelope at a desk — Photo: JomNicha / Shutterstock

Utah Governor Spencer Cox says Joe Biden told him he had already thought about pardoning Donald Trump, even discussing it with Jill Biden that week.

Story Snapshot

Utah’s governor recounts Biden saying he had considered a Trump pardon in 2023.
Cox says Biden mentioned talking about it with Jill Biden during that same week.
The claim surfaces as Cox promotes a new book highlighted by The Atlantic’s reporting.
The Constitution gives presidents wide power to grant pardons for federal crimes.

What Cox Says Happened in the Presidential Limo

Utah Governor Spencer Cox says he raised a Trump pardon with Joe Biden in August 2023 during a ride in the presidential limousine in Salt Lake City. Cox says he told Biden, “This might sound crazy, but I think you should pardon Donald Trump.” Cox recounts Biden replied that he had “actually considered this for a while.” NJ.com reported those details from Cox’s account this week, citing the exchange in the limo.

Cox also says Biden linked that idea to a personal chat at home. According to Cox, Biden said he and Jill Biden had talked about the possibility during that same week. The New York Post reported Cox’s remark that Biden referenced “pillow talk” with the first lady about a Trump pardon. The claim adds a private layer to an already sensitive topic that blends law, politics, and family counsel in the White House.

How the Claim Emerged and Why It Resonates Now

The Atlantic’s coverage of Cox’s new book helped push the story into wider view. The outlet summarized Cox’s account as part of a broader effort he describes to cool political anger and push leaders toward unity. That framing highlights why a pardon discussion, even a private one, would matter in today’s polarized climate. It also explains why the detail landed with force across media and social feeds this week.

The report arrives after years of fierce battles over clemency. President Trump criticized some pardons issued by Joe Biden and challenged their validity because they were signed by autopen, a standard practice for official signatures. News reports noted that Biden said he made those decisions even if an autopen applied the signature. Those debates kept the public focus on who gets mercy and why, and on who decides.

What the Constitution Allows a President to Do

The Constitution gives the president the power to grant reprieves and pardons for federal crimes, except in cases of impeachment. Legal experts describe this power as broad, flexible, and often exercised outside formal channels. The Brennan Center for Justice explains that the pardon power is designed to inject mercy into a hard system and can be used before charges or convictions in some cases. That scope makes even private musing about pardons meaningful in politics.

Scholars also note that presidents do not need to consult the Justice Department to issue clemency. Modern presidents have sometimes bypassed typical review steps without breaking any legal rule. That reality fuels public debate about fairness and favoritism. It also invites suspicion from both left and right that elites protect their own while regular people face strict punishment for lesser offenses. The law is clear; the politics are not.

Why This Story Taps America’s Shared Frustrations

Americans across parties worry that powerful people play by different rules. A report that a president weighed pardoning a political rival hits that nerve. Some see mercy as a path to calm the country. Others see it as elites cutting deals while families struggle with rising costs and crime. The claim, if accurate as Cox describes, shows how top leaders sometimes float big choices behind closed doors while the public gets the results much later, if at all.

Biden considered PARDON for Trump in move White House slams https://t.co/fpEd6K8BWA via @DailyMail

— Brian Craig 🇺🇸 (@BrianCraigShow) August 28, 2026

The public also wrestles with where mercy ends and accountability begins. Past presidents used pardons to heal wounds or reward allies, depending on the critic. That mixed record shapes current reactions. People want a justice system that is strong, fair, and even-handed. They want leaders who put country over career. Cox’s account brings those hopes and fears into focus. The legal power is simple. The trust problem is not.