Trump respects Biden pardon of Fauci after Senate hearing

President Donald Trump said on Wednesday, July 29, 2026, that he respects the presidential pardon power, including former President Joe Biden's preemptive pardon of Dr. Anthony Fauci. Trump's comments came hours after Fauci, the former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination more than 100 times during a contentious Senate hearing.

Fauci was subpoenaed to appear before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, chaired by Senator Rand Paul, a Republican from Kentucky, to discuss the pandemic response and the origins of COVID-19. He declined to answer any questions. During the hearing, Paul warned Fauci that his refusal to testify was against the law and that there would be repercussions. Paul also ordered Capitol Police to remove Fauci's attorney, David Schertler, from the hearing room after he attempted to interject. Schertler later called the proceeding baseless and vindictive.

Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Trump said he had watched the hearing and acknowledged the power of the pardon. He stated that while he was never a big fan of Fauci and disagreed...