Trump issues 74 pardons, 70 commutations on last day of term


On January 20, 2021, President Donald Trump (R) issued 74 pardons and 70 commutations. Among those pardoned included former Trump chief strategist Steve Bannon, former U.S. Reps. Rick Renzi (R-Ariz.) and Duke Cunningham (R-Calif.), and the rappers Lil’ Wayne and Kodak Black.

These final pardons and commutations bring the total for Trump’s term to 143 pardons and 94 commutations. Trump issued the fewest pardons of any president since George H.W. Bush (R) (the most recent one-term president) but issued more per year than either Barack Obama (D) or George W. Bush (R).

Since fiscal year 1902, when Teddy Roosevelt (R) was in office, presidents have issued a total of 14,333 pardons and 6,641 commutations. Of those, Democratic presidents issued 8,393 pardons and 4,103 commutations, while Republican presidents issued 5,940 pardons and 2,538 commutations.

Between fiscal years 1902 and 2021, Franklin Roosevelt (D) issued, on average, more pardons than any other president, averaging 234.9 pardons per year. Between fiscal years 1902 and 2021, Lyndon Johnson (D) was the only president to issue no pardons or commutations during his final fiscal year in office.