Trump criticises Democrat he pardoned over not switching political parties

December 7, 2025

President Trump publicly criticized Texas Democratic Representative Henry Cuellar for remaining with the Democratic Party after receiving a presidential pardon for bribery and money laundering charges. Trump had pardoned Cuellar, claiming he was politically targeted by the Biden administration for his stance on border security, and Republicans had hoped he would switch parties to strengthen their House majority. Instead, Cuellar filed for re-election as a Democrat, prompting Trump to accuse him of disloyalty on social media.

Who is affected

Representative Henry Cuellar (Texas Democrat)
Cuellar's wife (co-defendant in charges)
Cuellar's daughters
The Republican Party and House Republicans
The Democratic Party
Texas voters in Cuellar's district
Federal labor unions and job applicants (referenced in context of loyalty expectations)

What action is being taken

Henry Cuellar is filing for re-election as a Democrat
Cuellar is working with the president
Trump is publicly criticizing Cuellar on social media
Federal labor unions are pursuing a lawsuit against the Trump administration over loyalty questions in job applications

Why it matters

This situation highlights Trump's expectation of loyalty from those he assists, demonstrating how he views pardons as transactions that should generate political allegiance. The incident reveals tensions around the narrow House majority, where party-switching could significantly impact Republican legislative power. It also illustrates the broader pattern of Trump prioritizing personal loyalty over other qualities, which has implications for federal governance and the politicization of presidential pardons.

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC