President Trump expressed frustration on Truth Social after Texas Representative Henry Cuellar (D) announced he would run for reelection as a Democrat just days after receiving a presidential pardon for federal bribery charges.
Story Snapshot
- Trump pardoned Rep. Henry Cuellar and his wife from federal bribery charges, citing unfair targeting by the Biden administration
- Cuellar immediately filed to run for reelection as a Democrat in 2026, prompting Trump’s criticism about disloyalty
- Trump believes Cuellar was prosecuted for opposing open border policies and speaking the truth about immigration
- Cuellar identifies as a “conservative Democrat” and claims he will work with Trump despite party affiliation
Trump’s Pardon Backfires After Cuellar’s Party Loyalty
President Trump issued a scathing rebuke on Truth Social after Cuellar filed to run for reelection as a Democrat shortly after receiving a presidential pardon.
Trump called Cuellar’s decision a betrayal, stating the congressman would continue working with “Radical Left Scum” who previously sought to imprison him and his wife.
The president warned that Texas voters and Cuellar’s own daughters would disapprove of such disloyalty to the man who saved his family from potential prison sentences.
Cuellar defended his party affiliation during a Fox News interview, quoting former President Lyndon Johnson’s famous declaration about being “an American, a Texan, and a Democrat, in that order.”
Despite identifying as a “conservative Democrat,” Cuellar expressed a willingness to find common ground with Trump on policy matters, particularly immigration reform, where their views have historically aligned.
President Trump on Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas) running as Democrat after pardon: ‘Such a lack of loyalty’https://t.co/SOfTudTHfm
— The Hill (@thehill) December 7, 2025
Biden Administration’s Alleged Weaponization of Justice
Trump reiterated his belief that the Biden administration weaponized the Justice Department against Cuellar for opposing open border policies. The president claimed Democrats “mercilessly went after Henry with everything they had” because the Texas congressman criticized allowing unrestricted immigration.
Trump stated he predicted Cuellar’s indictment immediately after the congressman spoke against open borders, viewing the prosecution as politically motivated retaliation for breaking party ranks on immigration.
The DOJ indicted both Cuellars in March 2024 on fourteen counts, alleging the congressman accepted payments from an Azerbaijan government-owned oil company and a Mexican bank.
Federal prosecutors later dismissed two counts in August 2025, with the trial scheduled for 2026. Trump emphasized that Cuellar was a respected person who suffered persecution for defending America’s borders against Democrat Party orthodoxy.
Presidential Compassion Meets Political Reality
Trump revealed that letters from Cuellar’s daughters, Christina and Catherine, influenced his decision to grant the pardon. The president expressed concern for the family’s well-being, noting Democrats sought to destroy not only Cuellar but also “his lovely wife, his two young daughters, and anyone close to them.”
The president concluded his Truth Social post with a warning about future clemency decisions, writing, “Oh well, next time, no more Mr. Nice Guy!” This suggests Trump may reconsider showing mercy to Democrats facing federal charges, even those who share some conservative positions.
The Cuellar case demonstrates the complex dynamics between personal compassion, political strategy, and expectations of loyalty in Trump’s approach to presidential pardons.
