Trump Struggles to Explain His Own Pardons as Country Stumbles Along Under His Leadership.
President Donald Trump had a chance to address the pardons he signed just hours before, but when asked about them by a reporter on Thursday, his response was less than reassuring. The president's comments suggest that he may not have fully considered the implications of his actions, and instead seemed to rely on vague explanations or claimed ignorance.
The latest instance of Trump's lack of transparency came after the public learned about an arrest made possible by one of his pardons just days earlier. When pressed for a response, Trump said "you know" - implying that thousands of people who received pardons were not all bad apples, but this doesn't hold up to scrutiny when reality proves otherwise.
Trump was then asked about another pardon he signed, one that sparked significant controversy due to its potential ties to corruption. The president initially claimed he didn't recognize the recipient's name, and later said "they" told him why the person deserved a pardon. It is unclear who these individuals are or what exactly they had to say.
This isn't an isolated incident for Trump, however. In recent months, he has shown himself to be frequently clueless in response to various news questions. Just days ago, he appeared lost while discussing developments in Israel, and just two weeks prior, when questioned about a possible suspension of habeas corpus, the president initially thought that was a reference to someone else before admitting his own ignorance.
Trump's recent responses are especially concerning given the scale and reach of his power as president. As such authority is concentrated largely within his hands, Trump's inability to provide clear explanations for his actions is more alarming than it might otherwise be.
				
			President Donald Trump had a chance to address the pardons he signed just hours before, but when asked about them by a reporter on Thursday, his response was less than reassuring. The president's comments suggest that he may not have fully considered the implications of his actions, and instead seemed to rely on vague explanations or claimed ignorance.
The latest instance of Trump's lack of transparency came after the public learned about an arrest made possible by one of his pardons just days earlier. When pressed for a response, Trump said "you know" - implying that thousands of people who received pardons were not all bad apples, but this doesn't hold up to scrutiny when reality proves otherwise.
Trump was then asked about another pardon he signed, one that sparked significant controversy due to its potential ties to corruption. The president initially claimed he didn't recognize the recipient's name, and later said "they" told him why the person deserved a pardon. It is unclear who these individuals are or what exactly they had to say.
This isn't an isolated incident for Trump, however. In recent months, he has shown himself to be frequently clueless in response to various news questions. Just days ago, he appeared lost while discussing developments in Israel, and just two weeks prior, when questioned about a possible suspension of habeas corpus, the president initially thought that was a reference to someone else before admitting his own ignorance.
Trump's recent responses are especially concerning given the scale and reach of his power as president. As such authority is concentrated largely within his hands, Trump's inability to provide clear explanations for his actions is more alarming than it might otherwise be.
 i mean, how can u just pardon people and not even know who they r?
 i mean, how can u just pardon people and not even know who they r?  like, he's supposed to be the leader of the country but seems to be struggling w/ basic info
 like, he's supposed to be the leader of the country but seems to be struggling w/ basic info  and his responses are always so vague
 and his responses are always so vague  i'm starting 2 think he's more clueless than we all thought
 i'm starting 2 think he's more clueless than we all thought 
 , this is getting crazy! The guy can't even explain what he did
, this is getting crazy! The guy can't even explain what he did  ? And another one claiming "you know" as an answer is just LOL
? And another one claiming "you know" as an answer is just LOL  ... what's going on with that guy?!
... what's going on with that guy?! It's like he's trying to avoid accountability or something
 It's like he's trying to avoid accountability or something  His lack of transparency is super concerning, especially when you consider how much power he has
 His lack of transparency is super concerning, especially when you consider how much power he has  This isn't a normal president making mistakes, this is someone who thinks they're above the law
 This isn't a normal president making mistakes, this is someone who thinks they're above the law  We need someone who can give clear answers and take responsibility for their actions
 We need someone who can give clear answers and take responsibility for their actions 
 ? It's like 90% of tweets are asking him questions and he just doesn't seem to care
? It's like 90% of tweets are asking him questions and he just doesn't seem to care  .
. . And if you look at his record on transparency... it's like a whole graph with a downward trend
. And if you look at his record on transparency... it's like a whole graph with a downward trend  .
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 This is not good for anyone, especially when you think about all the people who are actually affected by these pardons.
 This is not good for anyone, especially when you think about all the people who are actually affected by these pardons.
 . The fact that he can't explain himself clearly is what worries me β as president, he has a huge impact on our country and it's disconcerting to see him struggle with simple questions
. The fact that he can't explain himself clearly is what worries me β as president, he has a huge impact on our country and it's disconcerting to see him struggle with simple questions 