UPDATE: In a surprising twist, former President Donald Trump has publicly attacked Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-TX), whom he recently pardoned. This urgent development unfolded on Sunday, October 15, 2023, following Cuellar’s announcement on Fox News that he intends to run for re-election as a Democrat.
Trump took to Truth Social to express his outrage, criticizing Cuellar for what he deemed a lack of loyalty following the pardon from money laundering charges just a week prior. Trump wrote, “Such a lack of LOYALTY, something that Texas voters, and Henry’s daughters, will not like. Oh well, next time, no more Mr. Nice guy!”
Political analyst Sam Stein, managing editor of The Bulwark, responded to Trump’s post during a new episode of “Bulwark Takes,” expressing disbelief at the situation. Stein noted that Trump’s explosive reaction indicates he expected Cuellar to shift allegiance to the Republican Party post-pardon. “Apparently, they didn’t work out the details prior to Trump issuing the pardon, and Cuellar just decides to run again as a Democrat. So you can imagine Trump’s not a big fan of this move,” Stein explained.
Stein characterized Trump’s pardon of Cuellar as an attempt to “upend a live case of corruption against a sitting congressman for nothing basically,” calling the whole scenario “just ridiculous.”
Cuellar’s pardon isn’t the only controversial decision by Trump recently. He also pardoned Changpeng Zhao, the billionaire founder of the cryptocurrency exchange Binance, which reportedly facilitated a $2 billion investment in Trump’s World Liberty Financial stablecoin.
This unfolding drama raises significant questions about loyalty and party alignment in U.S. politics, particularly as Cuellar prepares to campaign for re-election. With Trump’s unexpected remarks, political analysts and voters alike are left to ponder the implications for both Cuellar’s future and Trump’s influence in Texas.
As this story develops, observers will be watching closely for Cuellar’s response and any further statements from Trump regarding their fraught relationship. Stay tuned for updates on this rapidly evolving situation.
