Kamala Harris Was Asked If She'd Pardon Trump. Here's How She Dodged The Question.
Kamala Harris didn’t dismiss pardoningDonald Trump if elected president during an interview with NBC News but tried to shut down the line of questioning.
The former president is awaiting sentencing on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records after being found guilty in the Stormy Daniels hush money trial.
He also faces legal entanglements after allegedly stealing classified documents (though that case is under appeal), his involvement in the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, and the currently paused election crimes case in Fulton County, Georgia.
If Trump loses the election, he could be spending more time in courtrooms and jail cells than his Mar-A-Lago home, so NBC News correspondent Hallie Jackson wondered if Harris might actually pardon the former president.
“Would you consider, if you win and he’s convicted, a pardon for former President Trump?” Jackson asked during the interview that aired Tuesday.
Harris chose not to engage with that question, saying, “I’m not going to get into those hypotheticals. I’m focused on the next 14 days.”
But Jackson continued her line of questioning.
“But do you believe, is there any part of you that subscribes to the argument that has been made in the past that a pardon could help bring America together, could help you unify the country and move them, move on,” Jackson asked.
Harris didn’t dismiss pardoning Trump. She did, however, offer a different way to bring America together.
“Let me tell you what’s going to help us move on: I get elected president of the United States,” she said.
"Let me tell you what's gonna help us move on: I get elected president of the United States" -- Hallie Jackson asks Kamala Harris if she would considering pardoning Trump but Harris isn't having any of that nonsense pic.twitter.com/or0nc6RyN4
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) October 22, 2024
There is, of course, precedent for a president to pardon their predecessor. Gerald Ford pardoned Richard Nixon in 1974 to help the country move past its “long national nightmare.”
In recent months, Democratic Congressman Dean Phillips as well as Republicans Mitt Romney and Ron DeSantis have suggested Trump should be pardoned.
However, Trump has avoided saying whether he would pardon himself should he be reelected.
Many people were happy that Harris didn’t agree to pardoning Trump, including a parody account that shares the same name of Justice Department Special Counsel Jack Smith.
There can be no peace without justice. She knows that more than most.
— Jack E. Smith ⚖️ (@7Veritas4) October 23, 2024
Others chimed in, with many mentioning the negative effects caused by Ford’s pardon of Nixon.
I wonder how different things would be if Nixon had been held accountable for his crimes instead of receiving a pardon. Would trump have been indicted immediately upon leaving office instead of waiting years?
— Lisa the Dreamer 🇺🇸🦅 (@LisaJoy9) October 23, 2024
Nixon’s pardon created a bad presedent and helped facilitate a lawless Trump.
No one is above the law.
No pardon.— SarahCA (@SarahBCalif) October 23, 2024
If Trump is pardoned, it permanently allows presidents a de facto immunity from crimes that Nixon never should have received in the first place.
— Bill Johnson (@Bill43111) October 22, 2024
One person suggested dire consequences for Harris should she actually pardon Trump.
I would reverse time and unvote for her if she pardons Trump.
— TaritaC.bsky.social (@TaritaC) October 22, 2024
Others were impressed by the way Harris dealt with the question.
She is just running over Jackson who is out of depth
— Jen "We aren't going back " Rubin 🥥🌴 (@JRubinBlogger) October 22, 2024
LMAO!
Hallie was like a teenager that got scolded by their mom for trying to steal the car keys…— Cork Off! Nalini4America (@CorkYou) October 22, 2024
Hallie Jackson's question was the most idiotic question I have ever heard! Would Harris consider pardoning Trump?!?! Fuck no she would not do that! As a law person, Kamala knows a criminal must serve his/her punishment to learn from his/her mistake. Waving her pardon wand is not…
— UpstateNYgal518 (@UpstateNYgal518) October 22, 2024