Bulwark Takes

Episode: "Republicans Have No Answer For Trump's Latest Pardon"

Date: December 10, 2025
Host: Will Saletan (The Bulwark)

Overview

In this episode, Will Saletan reviews the Republican response—or lack thereof—to Donald Trump's controversial pardon of former Honduran president Juan Orlando Hernandez, who had been convicted in a U.S. court for massive drug trafficking. The episode focuses on the uncomfortable and evasive answers offered by multiple Republican senators when confronted about the pardon, contrasting these evasions with Trump’s own shifting justification and highlighting one rare GOP critique.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Trump’s Pardon of Juan Orlando Hernandez

• Background: Hernandez was serving a 45-year sentence for trafficking large quantities of cocaine into the U.S. Trump issued a pardon, releasing Hernandez permanently ([00:42]).
• Saletan’s Framing: The contradiction is stark—while Trump’s administration touts tough action against drug cartels (even blowing up boats in the Caribbean), he pardons a convicted “drug kingpin.”

2. Evasive Responses from Republican Senators

Saletan presents a “parade of squirming,” with one Republican after another dodging questions about the pardon.

a. Sen. Markwayne Mullin (Oklahoma) on CNN (Nov 30) ([02:30])

• Quote:

  "Well, the particular circumstances that I'm not quite aware of, however, I do know we're trying to build relationships with Honduras... by allowing people to have a new beginning, he's showing good faith."

• Saletan’s Commentary:

  "So Senator Mullen has no clue what he's talking about... Do they get a new beginning? No. No, they get death." ([03:38])

b. Donald Trump’s Own Explanations ([03:55], [04:35])

• First Explanation (Air Force One):

  "I was asked by Honduras... they said it was a Biden setup. They basically said he was a drug dealer because he was the president... and I agreed with them."

• Second Explanation:

  "He was the president, and they had some drugs being sold in their country, and because he was the president, they went after him. That was a Biden horrible witch hunt."

• Saletan’s Reaction:

  "Nothing about New Beginnings, nothing about building a relationship with Honduras. Trump’s answer... was total bullshit."

c. Sen. Roger Marshall (Kansas) on Morning Joe ([05:41])

• Quote:

  "Yeah, you know, I don't know the details of that particular pardon. Happy to look into it, but I just can't really speak to it."

• Follow-up Excuse:

  "I'm a doctor. If you ask me a question and I don't have a good answer... I'm really locked in on healthcare right now."

• Saletan’s Mockery:

  "Usually when senators get asked about something like why is it okay for Trump to lie about vaccines, they say, 'Oh, I can't comment because I'm not a doctor.' But Roger Marshall has a new twist..."

d. Sen. Tom Cotton (Arkansas) on Meet the Press ([08:05])

• Quote:

  “I haven’t spoken to the president about that pardon. There may be strategic reasons to pardon a former president of Honduras... But... my general approach to crime is that we should lock them up. So…”

• Saletan:

  “He’d have to know more about the circumstances. It’s a week later. At this point, we’ve heard from Trump what his reasons were… Cotton pretends there’s some strategy involved.”

e. Sen. Eric Schmitt (Missouri) with George Stephanopoulos ([09:46])

• Quote:

  "I'm not familiar with the facts or circumstances, but... to try to imply that somehow President Trump is soft on drug smuggling is just ridiculous."

• Stephanopoulos Presses Further ([10:10]):

  "What do you mean you're not familiar with the facts and circumstances of the pardon? ...Aren’t you curious about that?"

• Schmitt Deflects:

  "I'm curious about your pushback on that particular point... which is probably why your ratings are so bad."

• Saletan’s Take:

  "He can’t defend the pardon, so he’s trying to change the subject, but Stephanopoulos won’t let him. …You know who lost the debate? The guy who won’t answer the question..."

3. A Lone Republican Critic: Rand Paul ([12:07])

• Quote:

  "If they label you a narco terrorist, they can kill you without trial. But if they say you're not a narco terrorist, you can be given a pardon even though you have been convicted... he’s gloated over all the people he's loaded with drugs... but he’s okay because the administration does not label him a narco terrorist."

• Saletan:

  "See, that wasn’t hard. It’s only hard if you’re too gutless to speak up when the president does something wrong."

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Saletan summing up the GOP’s position ([12:50]):

  "It’s only hard if you’re too gutless to speak up when the president does something wrong. And unfortunately, with a couple of exceptions, that describes just about every Republican in Congress."

• Schmitt’s defensiveness with Stephanopoulos ([10:45]):

  "Your ratings are so bad." — Sen. Eric Schmitt, when pressed about the pardon.

• Saletan mocking Cotton’s logic ([08:56]):

  "There wasn’t some geopolitical strategy. Trump did this because somebody told him this was a Biden prosecution... which again, is bullshit."

• On Republican excuses ([05:59]):

  "Oh, I’m a doctor. You know, usually when senators get asked about something like why is it okay for Trump to lie about vaccines? They say, oh, I can't comment because I'm not a doctor. But Roger Marshall has a new twist..."

Important Timestamps

• [00:42] — Will Saletan introduces Trump’s pardon of Hernandez.
• [02:30] — Senator Mullin’s CNN appearance: “New Beginnings” excuse.
• [03:55] — Trump’s first public justification (“Biden setup”).
• [05:41] — Senator Marshall ducks the question: claims ignorance.
• [08:05] — Senator Cotton’s “strategic reasons” evasion.
• [09:46] — Senator Schmitt claims ignorance, attacks interviewer.
• [12:07] — Rand Paul’s rare Republican criticism of the pardon.

Tone and Conclusion

The episode is sharply critical, sarcastic, and incredulous, skewering Republican senators for their evasions and for failing to offer substantive defenses of Trump's action. Saletan repeatedly uses “bullshit” to describe both Trump’s explanation and the senators’ dodges, maintaining a blunt and biting commentary. The overall message: The Republican Party has no good answer for Trump’s pardon—and most lack the courage even to say so.

Final note from Saletan ([12:54]):

"See you next time."