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President Donald Trump said he now regrets pardoning Democrat Rep. Henry Cuellar in a lengthy post shared on his Truth Social account following Cuellar's announced plans to seek reelection.
Cuellar, who sits in one of the House Democrats' most competitive seats, was pardoned after facing charges of federal bribery, money laundering, and foreign-agent charges for allegedly taking $600,000 from Azerbaijan's state-owned oil company, as well as a Mexican bank.
“Only a short time after signing the Pardon, Congressman Henry Cuellar announced that he will be ‘running’ for Congress again, in the Great State of Texas (a State where I received the highest number of votes ever recorded!), as a Democrat,” 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!”
Trump's decision to pardon Cuellar, a moderate, pro-life Democrat, surprised many Republicans as his seat is in Texas' 28th Congressional District, which is rated as one of six toss-up races ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, according to the election handicapper Cook Political Report. Cuellar was indicted by former President Joe Biden's Justice Department -- which was specifically mentioned by Trump in his scathing post -- and his pardoning was seen as wiping away an advantage for the Republicans.