Donald Trump criticized Democratic congressman Henry Cuellar for his lack of loyalty for not defecting to the Republican Party after receiving a pardon from the US president.
In announcing the pardon Wednesday, President Trump said the Texas representative who was indicted last year on bribery and money laundering charges had become a political target of the Biden administration after he “courageously spoke out against open borders.”
Hours after he was pardoned, Cuellar filed for re-election as a Democrat, dashing Republicans’ hopes that he could switch parties and win a slim majority in the House.
Trump wrote on social media about Cuellar’s “absolutely lack of loyalty.” “Ah, no more Mr. Nice guy next time!”
The Justice Department under the Biden administration charged that Cuellar and his wife received $600,000 (£450,600) from the Azerbaijani state oil company and an unnamed Mexican bank in exchange for advancing their interests in Congress.
The couple, who have pleaded not guilty, were indicted in 2024 on 14 counts, including conspiracy, bribery, wire fraud, money laundering and violating a ban on acting as agents of foreign entities.
In a social media post Sunday, Trump accused “radical left” Democrats of “ruthlessly” pursuing Cuellar, a moderate Democrat, on an “evil quest” to “destroy” him and his family. “All because Henry wanted strong border security!”
In a lengthy post, Trump said he had never spoken to the congressman or his family, but that it felt very good to be able to fight because the family had been “treated so badly.”
Trump added that despite the pardon, Cuellar decided to run again as a Democrat. “Continues to collaborate with radical leftist scumbags who just a few weeks ago wanted him and his wife to spend the rest of their lives in prison, and probably still will!”
And Trump wrote that that “lack of loyalty” would not sit well with Texas voters or Cuellar’s daughters, who wrote a letter urging the president to pardon their parents.
Nonetheless, Cuellar doubled down on his intention to remain a Democrat, telling Fox News on Sunday, “I’m an American, I’m a Texan, and I’m a Democrat. In that order.”
When asked to respond to President Trump’s social media posts, Cuellar said, “I am a conservative Democrat, but I will work with the president.”
Cuellar added that Trump was on her mind while attending church on Sunday morning.
“I prayed for the president,” he said. “I prayed for his family, and I prayed for the president because when the president succeeds, the country succeeds.”
Trump’s attack on Cuellar is the latest example of the president expecting loyalty from those he helps.
A federal union group filed a lawsuit last month against the Trump administration over “loyalty questions” included in thousands of federal job applications. The question asks applicants to identify Trump policy initiatives that are important to them and explain how they would personally advance Trump’s agenda.
Trump has long said loyalty is most important to him.
“I value loyalty above all else, over brains, over drive, over energy,” he said.
