President Donald Trump is upset U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar won’t kiss the ring. Credit: Shutterstock / Brian Jason
On Sunday, President Donald Trump partially showed his cards about why he pardoned South Texas Democrat U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar and his wife last week as they faced federal bribery charges.
In a Truth Social post, Trump expressed extreme displeasure that Cuellar will run again as a Democrat in the 2026 midterms, hinting the president may have expected the 11-term congressman to switch parties or not run in exchange for the pardon.
“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, continuing to work with the same Radical Left Scum that just weeks before wanted him and his wife to spend the rest of their lives in Prison – And [sic] probably still do!” Trump said in the post.
Trump’s rant continued: “Such a lack of LOYALTY, something that Texas Voters, and Henry’s daughters, will not like. Oh’ [sic] well, next time, no more Mr. Nice guy [sic]!”
Cuellar, whose district included San Antonio until it was recently redrawn by the Texas Legislature, filed for re-election shortly after Trump announced the pardon last week.
In comments seeking to justify his pardon, Trump painted Cuellar as a victim of the Biden administration, alleging his predecessor sought to punish the congressman for his criticism of that White House’s immigration policies. Trump added that a letter from Cuellar’s two daughters guided his decision.
“The Dems mercilessly went after Henry with everything they had!” Trump said in Sunday’s Truth Social post. “They were looking to destroy him, his lovely wife, his two young daughters, and anyone close to them.”
Meanwhile, it doesn’t appear the Dems are too upset with being Cuellar back in the game ahead of a midterms many predict will be punishing for Republicans.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries last week told CNN he thought the case against Cuellar was flimsy but added that he was puzzled why Trump chose to issue the pardon.
“I don’t know why the president decided to do this,” Jeffries said. “I think the outcome was exactly the right outcome.”
Trump’s Sunday meltdown offers more evidence that for all his self-professed skill as a dealmaker, the reality-show businessman has secured few transactional victories when it comes to trade agreements, conflict-ending resolutions or just about anything else.
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Cuellar, whose district stretches from San Antonio to Laredo, faced federal charges of bribery, money laundering and conspiracy.
Because of course he did.
The Democrat also wished Trump ‘nothing but the best.’