It is unacceptable for a president to issue pardons to family members
Democrats68%
Republicans65%
Independents66%
Source: YouGov, Apr. 25, 2025
Chart: Americans Agree
Chart: Americans Agree
Pardons for Family Members
YouGov, Apr. 25, 2025
Details
| Question | Do you generally consider the following actions by a U.S. president to be...? |
| Item | Issuing pardons to family members |
| Response | Unacceptable |
| Poll Main Page | Americans say many Trump tactics cross the line for presidents |
| Interview Period | Apr. 21, 2025 to Apr. 24, 2025 |
| Sample Size | 1,168 |
| Policy Context | When this poll was conducted in April 2025, President Joe Biden had pardoned his son, Hunter, several months earlier, before the elder Biden left office. Hunter Biden had pled guilty to tax charges in September 2024 and was found guilty of being an illegal drug user in possession of a gun in June 2024. Joe Biden’s justification for the pardon was that he believed Hunter had been treated unfairly because of being the president’s son. |