In a surprising exchange on Monday, commentators Chris Cuomo and Stephen A. Smith expressed a bold opinion: President Joe Biden should consider pardoning former President Donald Trump. The two media figures argued that such an act would be for the greater good of the nation.
“If I were [President Biden], I would pardon Trump,” Cuomo stated during a live discussion. “I know people are going to get upset about this, but just think about it before you go crazy. Enough’s enough.”
Smith echoed Cuomo’s sentiment, reinforcing the idea that a pardon could help the country move forward. “Honestly, as crazy as this sounds, that’s exactly what I would do,” Smith said. “You’re the Democrats. You lost the election, you got your butt whipped. You couldn’t prevent him from going back to the White House.”
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The commentators’ call to action comes amidst a turbulent political landscape, with Trump facing a barrage of legal challenges and investigations. While some cases have been dropped and others remain pending, Smith argued that the ongoing legal battles are becoming a distraction from more pressing national concerns.
“It’s time to move forward,” Smith continued. “You want to get at Trump? Sit back and judge. You’ve got a midterm election in two years. Be ready.”
Drawing historical parallels, Smith and Cuomo pointed to Gerald Ford’s controversial pardon of Richard Nixon following the Watergate scandal as a precedent for such a move. Ford’s decision, though criticized at the time, was framed as an effort to heal the nation and focus on future challenges rather than past transgressions.
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Smith also referenced the contentious 2000 presidential election between George W. Bush and Al Gore, where legal battles over Florida’s vote count could have dragged on indefinitely.
“The whole hanging chads issue could have gone on, but it didn’t. It was for the better of the country,” he said, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing national unity over partisan vengeance.
Cuomo and Smith’s arguments underscore a growing frustration with the seemingly endless cycle of political and legal battles. For them, a presidential pardon represents not a concession, but a strategic step towards healing and progress.
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