Trump doesn’t usually second guess his decisions. But this time he made an exception.
And Donald Trump has revealed one of his biggest regrets as president.
President Trump let loose a fiery blast of frustration last week after his surprising pardon of Rep. Henry Cuellar turned into a bitter pill. The Texas Democrat, fresh off dodging serious federal charges, wasted no time declaring he’d run for Congress again—staying true to his blue roots in a state that’s solidly red.
Cuellar, at 70, holds down a seat in Texas’ 28th District that’s always been a battleground for House Democrats. He stared down ugly accusations of bribery, money laundering, and acting as a foreign agent, supposedly pocketing $600,000 from Azerbaijan’s oil giant and a bank south of the border.
“Only a short time after signing the Pardon, Congressman Henry Cuellar announced that he will be ‘running’ for Congress again, in the Great State of Texas (a State where I received the highest number of votes ever recorded!), as a Democrat,” Trump said on Truth Social.
That post didn’t stop there, hitting hard on what Trump sees as a total betrayal. “Such a lack of LOYALTY, something that Texas Voters, and Henry’s daughters, will not like. Oh’ well, next time, no more Mr. Nice guy!”
Many in the GOP scratched their heads over Trump’s move to pardon this Democrat, who’s shown some pro-life leanings but isn’t exactly a MAGA ally. His district stands out as one of just six Democrat-controlled seats labeled a pure toss-up by the Cook Political Report, ripe for a Republican flip.
By cutting Cuellar loose from those Biden DOJ charges, Trump might have handed Democrats a lifeline in the 2026 midterms. Republicans eyed that seat as prime territory to expand their majority, but now it’s back in play under the same old guard.
Cuellar’s no stranger to tough fights, holding onto his spot since 2004 against waves of Republican challengers and even primary threats from his own party.
Oddly enough, the pardon got a thumbs-up from House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, a New York Democrat. “This indictment was very thin to begin with, in my view,” Jeffries said to CNN. “I don’t know why the president decided to do this. I think the outcome was exactly the right outcome.”
Trump pulled back the curtain on his reasoning by sharing a heartfelt letter from Cuellar’s daughters, who pleaded for mercy last month. They highlighted their dad’s bold stance against Biden’s lax border policies, suggesting his honesty might have painted a target on his back.
“We also believe that our father’s independence and honesty may have contributed to how this case began,” they said.
“With all our hearts, we humbly ask that you show mercy and compassion to our parents.”
Despite that family appeal, Cuellar’s record includes voting to impeach Trump not once, but twice during his first White House stint. That history makes the pardon sting even more for Trump loyalists.
The feds painted a grim picture of Cuellar’s alleged schemes, claiming he took bribes from 2014 to 2021 through phony consulting deals and shell companies. Those outfits were tied to his wife, Imelda, who prosecutors said did next to nothing for the cash.
Right after Trump’s pardon dropped, Cuellar hit the press to confirm his reelection bid, showing no signs of switching sides or stepping away. It’s a move that’s likely got Trump supporters fuming over wasted goodwill.
“The Dems were vicious, and all because Henry strongly wanted, correctly, BORDER SECURITY! He was against illegals pouring into our Country, totally unchecked and unvetted,” Trump said in a Truth Social post.
Wrapping up his rant, Trump defended the pardon as a stand against injustice: “It was all very unfair what they were doing to him and his family, so much so that his daughters wrote me a beautiful letter about their parents.”
“I never spoke to the Congressman, his wife, or his daughters, but felt very good about fighting for a family that was tormented by very sick and deranged people.”
