Trump Pardoning His Former Enemy?

Is Trump really going to pardon him?

President Donald Trump has opened the door to a possibility few political observers would have expected: a pardon for Michael Cohen, his former personal attorney who later became one of his most prominent adversaries.

Trump told reporters Wednesday that he would consider granting Cohen a pardon under the right circumstances, marking another surprising development in the complicated relationship between the two men.

Trump said the possibility of pardoning Cohen had not previously been brought to his attention.

The president appeared surprised by the question before acknowledging that clemency could be considered.

Trump indicated he would be willing to consider a pardon if the circumstances supported it.

The comments are notable considering the bitter public feud that developed between Trump and Cohen after years of working closely together.

Trump Changes His Tone on Michael Cohen

Cohen once served as Trump’s personal attorney and fixer, becoming one of the most recognizable figures in the president’s business and political orbit.

Their relationship eventually collapsed.

Cohen pleaded guilty to federal charges in 2018 involving tax offenses, false statements and campaign-finance violations. He was sentenced to three years in prison and ultimately served more than a year.

Cohen subsequently became an outspoken Trump critic and provided testimony that played a role in Trump’s New York criminal case.

Now, however, Trump is speaking about his former attorney in dramatically different terms.

Trump pointed to Cohen’s recent comments about feeling pressured during the legal proceedings and argued that his former attorney had finally begun correcting the record.

“What they did to Michael Cohen was a disgrace,” Trump said.

Trump also claimed Cohen had been forced to make statements he did not want to make or believe.

But Cohen’s own position requires an important distinction.

Did Michael Cohen Recant His Testimony?

Trump has characterized Cohen’s recent comments as a recantation of his previous testimony.

Cohen, however, has maintained that his testimony was truthful.

Earlier this year, Cohen said he felt “pressured and coerced” during the process surrounding Trump’s criminal case. He later clarified that those feelings did not mean the information he provided was false.

Cohen said his testimony remained “truthful and accurate.”

That distinction is important because Cohen served as a key witness in the Manhattan case that resulted in Trump’s 2024 conviction on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records.

Trump has repeatedly denied wrongdoing and has challenged the prosecution and conviction.

Trump Praises His Former Attorney

The president’s latest comments follow another unexpected development.

Trump recently publicly praised Cohen for speaking out.

“I would like to thank Michael for having the Wisdom and Courage to step forward and do the right thing!” Trump wrote in a social media post.

Trump argued that Cohen’s recent statements support his longstanding contention that the criminal cases against him were politically motivated.

Trump continued that argument while speaking with reporters Wednesday.

“I appreciate that at least he came out, although late, he came out and rectified the situation,” Trump said.

The comments represent a striking change from the years when Trump and Cohen routinely attacked each other in public.

Cohen’s Legal History

Cohen’s legal troubles date back to 2018.

The former Trump attorney pleaded guilty to federal offenses that included tax evasion, making false statements to a financial institution and campaign-finance violations.

He was sentenced to three years behind bars.

One of the most closely watched elements of the case involved a $130,000 payment made to Stormy Daniels before the 2016 presidential election.

Trump has denied having a sexual encounter with Daniels.

Years later, Cohen became an important prosecution witness in Trump’s Manhattan criminal trial involving business records connected to the payment.

A jury convicted Trump in 2024 on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records. Trump has denied wrongdoing and is appealing the conviction.

Could Trump Actually Pardon Michael Cohen?

The possibility is no longer purely hypothetical.

Trump has now publicly said he would consider granting his former attorney clemency.

Presidential pardon authority covers federal offenses, meaning Trump’s clemency power could apply to Cohen’s federal convictions.

However, Trump stopped well short of announcing that a pardon would actually happen.

Instead, he said he would consider the possibility if the circumstances checked out.

That leaves several unanswered questions, including whether Cohen will formally pursue clemency and whether the White House will ultimately move forward.

A Remarkable Political Reversal

The possibility of Trump pardoning Cohen would have seemed almost unimaginable during the height of their feud.

Cohen went from being one of Trump’s closest longtime associates to becoming an outspoken critic and important witness in legal proceedings involving his former boss.

Now their relationship appears to have entered yet another chapter.

Trump is publicly praising Cohen, pointing to his recent statements and saying he is willing to consider granting him a pardon.

For Americans who have followed Trump’s legal battles for years, the reversal is significant.

Whether it ultimately results in presidential clemency remains uncertain.

For now, Trump has made clear that the door is open — potentially setting the stage for another unexpected turn in one of the most contentious relationships of his political career.