Trump said yes to pardoning members of his own administration before his term ends, called heavier bombing of Iran after the midterms "possible," and said he regrets the three justices he put on the Supreme Court — in one sitting with TIME at the White House on Monday. The magazine published the transcript Thursday morning.
TIME got to pardons by way of November. Asked whether he is preparing for losing the House, he said: "They'll probably go after me and I'll go after them." TIME then asked whether he is considering pardons for members of his administration before his term ends.
He said yes. Then he brought up Joe Biden's pardon of Anthony Fauci, swore at his interviewers, and complained that nobody had asked him about Venezuela.
He settled three things in one afternoon: his people if he loses Congress, Iran once the voting is over, and the judges he chose. So what did he actually say about the pardons, and whose name did he reach for to justify them?
