Bulwark Takes Trump Expected Payback—Rep. Cuellar Didn’t Deliver
Dec 7, 2025
Sam Stein dives into the bewildering world of Donald Trump’s pardons, highlighting the unexpected pardon of Rep. Henry Cuellar. He dissects the chaos it created among Republicans, especially given the lack of coordination with party leaders. Cuellar’s re-election bid raises eyebrows, following Trump's unspoken expectation of loyalty. The conversation also shifts to the controversial pardon of the former Honduran president, revealing the political headaches it brings for the GOP. Stein argues that these nonsensical pardons could seriously hurt Republican credibility.
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Cuellar Pardon Backfires Politically
- Donald Trump abruptly pardoned Democratic Rep. Henry Cuellar, surprising Republican leaders who expected political payoff.
- Cuellar then filed to run again as a Democrat, upending any assumed quid pro quo and embarrassing Trump publicly.
Pardons Signal Political Expectations
- Trump's public complaint on Truth Social implies he expected loyalty or a party switch in return for pardons.
- The episode suggests some pardons are issued with political expectations or transactional intent.
Cuellar Reaffirms Democratic Identity
- Cuellar appeared on a Sunday show with Maria Bartiromo and emphasized his Democratic identity and bipartisanship.
- He prayed for the president and said he'll continue to work with Trump despite running as a Democrat.