President Donald Trump says he would consider pardoning his administration officials before leaving office

In an interview with TIME magazine published on October 1, 2026, President Donald Trump said he would consider issuing preemptive pardons to members of his administration before the end of his second term. He cited former President Joe Biden's pardons to his family and officials as a precedent. Trump also discussed the possibility of Democrats winning the House in the midterms, saying they would "go after" him and he would retaliate. He dismissed his low poll numbers as "fake" and claimed he could beat any opponent by 20 points. The interview is the cover story for TIME's October 26 issue.