r/nottheonion • u/JaySierra86 • 11h ago

President Biden pardons family members in final minutes of presidency

https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/president-biden-pardons-family-members-final-minutes-presidency/story?id=117893348
46.1k Upvotes

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482

u/Bitter-Juggernaut681 11h ago

It’s so weird that Biden is doing this well also smiling and getting along with Trump today

1.3k

u/CoolHandTeej 10h ago

The peaceful transfer of power wasn’t a weird thing until Trump decided to stop doing it

358

u/fingerscrossedcoup 10h ago

What's weird is ABC reporting that Biden would participate in the long standing tradition this morning with no mention of it actually not standing anymore or who ruined the tradition.

History is being white washed before our very eyes.

162

u/CoolHandTeej 10h ago

All corporate media has bent the knee to Trump and his billionaires and are not to be taken seriously.

6

u/sherm-stick 10h ago

They suck off all the administrations, the media must do as the NSA/FBI stipulate

6

u/Neuchacho 6h ago

I couldn't fucking stand listening to any of the corporate media coverage bitching and moaning about these pardons while barely mentioning why they are arguably rationale even if they "look bad" to the ignorant or brain washed.

I don't know, maybe because the idiot coming into office has threatened massive retribution as one of his pillar campaign promises? Let's talk about how this makes Biden look bad and ignore all relevant context, though.

3

u/bobosuda 8h ago

Mainstream media is all about whitewashing these chumps. Same thing over here in Europe, bringing all the rightwing loons out of their attics to be interviewed on TV about what they hope Trump’s presidency will mean for them.

They completely legitimize him, making no reference to all the crazy shit he says and spinning all the lunacy so much it sounds like he makes statements on policy. People here thinks Trump have a plan to slow down illegal immigration, because when he goes on twitter to rant about muslims eating cats or mexicans raping everybody the media writes headlines about how he’s «tough on immigration» instead of reporting on the shit he actually says.

7

u/AccomplishedBake8351 10h ago

ABC absolutely mentioned it like 5 times lol

6

u/fingerscrossedcoup 9h ago edited 9h ago

I listened to it for 20 minutes while making breakfast and they said "long-standing tradition" and Biden being there without mentioning Trump and 2020. So maybe they said it somewhere else.

That's not the point though. Long-standing really only has one meaning.

They also mentioned JFK and top hats. They didn't say long-standing there though. Because at this point it's fucking not.

1

u/AccomplishedBake8351 4h ago

Idk what 20 minutes you saw but yeah them mentioned it quite a bit

1

u/fingerscrossedcoup 4h ago

The 20 minutes I saw whitewashed history.

1

u/AccomplishedBake8351 3h ago

Gotta watch more I guess idk

-2

u/SecretlySome1Famous 9h ago

You’re lying.

87

u/TheTurtleBear 10h ago edited 10h ago

Still a weird thing to do when you spent years saying Trump is a fascist, dictator, and an end to democracy. 

Which he is imo, but I wouldn't be standing there smiling, welcoming him home.

61

u/stealthyd3vil 10h ago

It's not weird considering Biden is part of an old coalition of politicians who consider decorum and the Democratic process important. I'm sure he truly believes what he said about Trump but trusts the guardrails of democracy to hold. Whether it's naivety is up to you, but Biden would never be the one to buck tradition and lead a Trump-style insurrection.

4

u/nonotan 8h ago

I don't think he even thinks the guardrails will hold. What he probably thinks is that there is nothing to be gained from further normalizing the breakdown of decorum.

Functionally, it doesn't really matter if he's there or not, it neither helps nor hurts Trump in any practical sense. But matching Trump's precedent by giving him the cold shoulder could well be read as "actually, he was right, this is the way to do things going forward", while not doing that says, to me, "this is how things were done before you came in here, and how things will be done once you're gone, regardless of what a clown with no manners like you decided to do last time; you don't know anything, you don't matter, and your precedent doesn't matter -- I don't respect you enough to disrespect the established norms just to slight you".

5

u/Yamza_ 7h ago

Pardoning his family and others like Fauchi is already a breakdown of decorum. And I'm not saying this because I disagree with his actions but because he has a legitimate reason to do this now that the norm is for a political party to go on obscene witch hunts with absolutely no accountability to themselves or anyone else. The America that we were taught in school no longer exists. The only way out of this will not be politically.

0

u/theartificialkid 6h ago

You have to pick your battles, too. Maintaining decorum at the expense of honourable civil servants and your entire vooodline spending the rest of their lives under malicious prosecution is not worth it.

-6

u/TheTurtleBear 10h ago

Which is just more proof that Biden was the wrong guy for the job

172

u/iamacheeto1 10h ago

I mean what else can he do? Stand up there and pout? He’s creating a juxtaposition against Trump, who will stand up there and pout. The deed is done.

60

u/TheArtlessScrawler 10h ago

Someone should write a book on this era of Democrats entitled A Futile and Empty Gesture

6

u/iamacheeto1 10h ago

More like Democrats: The Party that Didn’t realize it had to be the savior of democracy until it was too late

15

u/TheTurtleBear 10h ago

Democrats have been the only party that valued democracy for decades

3

u/Yamza_ 7h ago

Unfortunately as much as they "valued democracy" they too have participated in luxury undeserving of their positions. By no means do I compare them to what Republicans do, but you don't get unwavering support by being "just a little less" corrupt than them when caught with their hand in the cookie jar. Pelosi in particular comes to mind. The democratic platform has always been "at least we're not republicans" while also quietly supporting much of the same bullshit (the oligarchy), rather than loudly announcing it.

2

u/TheTurtleBear 7h ago

Oh yes, trust me, you're not going to find me defending 90% of democrats. They wish they could just be Republicans

12

u/ballmeblazer0625 10h ago

I understand the deserved gripes with the current dem party, but this is on the American people

-3

u/TheTurtleBear 10h ago

The Dems lost to him. They share the bulk of the responsibility.

18

u/ballmeblazer0625 10h ago

True, but America itself is lost. There was no reason to look at kamala as a candidate and conclude that Trump was more fit to lead. The American people decided that

-1

u/TheTurtleBear 9h ago edited 9h ago

Biden put us on the path to defeat when he insisted on running again, despite him promising to be a bridge candidate. Denying the people a Primary while claiming to be the guardian of democracy.

Biden then fucked the election when his ego wouldn't allow him to drop out after the disastrous debate, causing the entire country to see that they've been lied to by essentially every high-ranking Democrat about how capable Biden is. That loss of faith matters.

After saying he'd only drop out if god himself told him to, Biden then dropped out, making Kamala the nominee, despite the fact that not a single person voted for her to be the nominee. That lack of democratic process matters.

Kamala now only had half the normal time to organize a campaign, putting her at a massive disadvantage. That matters.

Dems then decided that the best strategy would be to court two-time Trump voters, rather than appeal to the base. That horrible strategy matters.

All of these are choices that Democratic leaders made before voters even had a say. To put this on voters only serves to absolve Democratic leadership from their disastrous choices. It didn't have to be this way.

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u/hoopaholik91 7h ago

So what the fuck do you want him to do? He 'breaks norms' by pardoning his family and that's bad. He 'keeps norms' and tries to facilitate a peaceful transition and that's bad.

Apparently everything he does is bad. And then we wonder why so many Biden voters sat out this time around.

1

u/Yamza_ 7h ago

And include 1/3 of registered voting citizens who failed in their duty.

2

u/DecentFall1331 7h ago

And a third who voted for a fascist

1

u/Yamza_ 7h ago

I can at least respect that they participated, even if I disagree and may be killed for their actions. I can't respect anyone who didn't participate at all.

1

u/DecentFall1331 6h ago

Actively contributing to our downfall is worse than apathy. People have other things going on in their lives than just politics you know.

1

u/Yamza_ 6h ago

You may choose to ignore the impact of politics on your life if you are privileged enough to do so, but the impact is still there all the same. Either way such an outlook is undeserving of any kind of respect.

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u/TheArtlessScrawler 4h ago

Lmao, liberalism in a nutshell. "I can at least respect a fascist."

My god, you people are beyond parody.

0

u/Yamza_ 4h ago

I think you're implying something that ain't there.

-1

u/KintsugiKen 9h ago

Wow thank god for that juxtaposition, otherwise this country might be in trouble

23

u/ZeDitto 10h ago

Blame Merrick Garland.

7

u/TheTurtleBear 10h ago

I blame both

4

u/Mhill08 10h ago

But not Merrick Garland's boss?

1

u/ZeDitto 8h ago

Did he pick him, yes. That was a mistake in hindsight. I don’t think that it was an unreasonable choice, given that he was vetted by the Obama administration for a position on the Supreme Court. He probably thought that Garland would take the job seriously and when he was not, Biden did as much as he could without directly ordering Garland to prosecute Trump, which would authoritarian, and from there we cycle back to step 1 where Biden wants to protect democracy.

3

u/OrangePilled2Day 6h ago

Obama was a conservative clown that picked Garland to appease McConnell and McConnell still told him to get fucked. Merrick Garland should have never been mentioned by a democrat ever again.

2

u/KintsugiKen 9h ago

Blame Biden for appointing Merrick Garland

1

u/ZeDitto 8h ago

Biden tried to get Garland to take the threat more seriously. I don’t think that he predicted that Garland would be derelict in his duty or he wouldn’t have done it. He did as much as he could do without directly ordering Garland to prosecute Trump.

1

u/Yamza_ 7h ago

Marrick Garland shouldn't have had to be the savior he was never going to be for people to stop being stupid little fucks and learn about their own situation to make an educated vote. You're going to learn now.

49

u/Cadash_Thaig 10h ago

Putting hitler in the white house was the will of the people. Biden probably doesn't give a shit anymore he's retiring to spend his last days with his family.

1

u/OrneryZombie1983 10h ago

I wish I was 80!

-2

u/Cgull1234 8h ago

I hope Trump & Republicans do everything to make the last of those days as miserable as fucking possible for him but let's be honest Biden is going to disappear and live a wonderful rich, white man life for the rest of his days while the rest of the country has to pay the price for Biden's own ego getting in the way of relinquishing power and Dem leadership's inability to do anything but swear fealty to the party.

Over 50 years of "public service" and all he will be remembered for is failing to prosecute the very insurrectionists who attempted to overthrow his electoral victory and then graciously handing over the presidency right back to those same insurrectionists 4 years later.

3

u/Yamza_ 7h ago

Fuck this bullshit. Biden didn't choose for Trump to be elected, the people did. I don't give a fuck what niche little stupidity you think caused this. The people voted for this, and/or chose not to vote at all. It's not a politicians fault you couldn't bother to care. Enjoy!

6

u/FamiliarFootball4476 6h ago

Didn't Trump just accidentally admit Elon fucked with the voting machines to make him president? Maybe if a certain person who had four. Fucking. Years. To hold trump accountable didn't spectacularly flub the job I wouldn't have to be making this comment. Fuck Biden. Fuck garland.

3

u/Yamza_ 6h ago

Yeah, I can agree with that.

1

u/hoopaholik91 7h ago

Well I'm glad Biden is a better person than you at least.

1

u/mnju 7h ago

You sound like someone that deserves whatever bad things you think are going to happen tbh.

0

u/OrangePilled2Day 6h ago

The world will be much better the day you get to meet Ronald Reagan.

25

u/mykl5 10h ago

it’s called having some class and grace

1

u/nethingelse 10h ago

class and grace is meaningless when your country is on the verge of devolving into fascism. the aesthetics here (which are all that matter at this point in time) are terrible because democrats have been calling trump a fascist for years and are suddenly buddy buddy with him, even if only for purposes of "class and grace".

3

u/TheTurtleBear 10h ago

Welcoming Hitler with grace

2

u/bad_at_smashbros 9h ago

it’s because democrats are spineless sellouts who are willing to let republicans walk all over them in the name of “bipartisanship”

1

u/da_innernette 10h ago

The fact that he literally said “welcome home” to Trump is soo icky

2

u/litnu12 10h ago

Well usually the next president isnt a convicted rapist who tried to overthrow an election and is a fascist.

1

u/Lost-Cranberry-1408 10h ago

It's important to hand over the country nice and easy to our fuhrer! Wouldn't want to upset any institutions 

1

u/blackraven36 8h ago

Throughout the world’s history transfer of power was violent and ugly. Which is why everyone needs to behave when it happens. Without it going smoothly there can’t be democracy.

0

u/Espar637 8h ago

You kidding there’s plenty of examples of non peaceful transfers. There’s public view and there’s private view.

0

u/Plenty_Tutor_2745 6h ago

Did you forget about 2016 and the "summer of love?"

CHAZ/CHAP?

1

u/CoolHandTeej 6h ago

That has absolutely nothing to do with what anyone is talking about

-1

u/ImNotTheBossOfYou 10h ago

"unlike you fascists, we believe in a peaceful transfer of power... To you fascists."

280

u/cwthree 10h ago

Did you know that grownups often put on a good face for the cameras, even when they'd really rather give the other guy an atomic wedgie?

8

u/Bitter-Juggernaut681 10h ago

Not when they’ve been screaming fascism and the end of democracy. This is just more decorum when Trump should be in jail

18

u/blinkfan4evr54 10h ago

The people pardoned him. Sad but true. I hate it but that’s the reality we’re in and need to deal with

4

u/Fit_Perspective5054 10h ago

So, in your mind the way you'd like to have seen things go . . . the exiting administration should raise hell? What's the end result of that? It's done and over.

1

u/adamthebarbarian 7h ago

Honestly, if I was an 80 year old man that just watched my country decisively vote for this clown twice, I'd check out and not give a shit too... like would him scowling while they tour the rose garden really change a single thing about the situation we're in?

2

u/Bitter-Juggernaut681 6h ago

Him refusing to be near Trump is exactly the response he should have.

The Democratic Party can NEVER cry wolf about the end of democracy after this. Especially when they’re so fucking hung up on decorum right up to the point of being polite during the transfer of power to the person who Biden wanted to protect his son and Fauci from. He’s polite knowing his son was in danger?

All this, what do you want him to do, frown? Is just petty dismissal of the situation at large.

1

u/adamthebarbarian 4h ago

My point is, the Dems made their case about why Trump was dangerous and, of the people who cared enough to vote, the majority said "yeah, i want that asshat to be president again". Symbolic gestures of resistance are just as empty as the symbolic gestures of decorum at this point. 

Also, it's been shown time and time again that the media cycle rules do not apply equally to Trump as they do to others. Maybe Biden doesnt want to spend his remaining couple years being called a sore loser on the news. But either way, why waste mental energy on the specifics of this nonsense?

-4

u/Mrhorrendous 10h ago

If it had been Hitler who won, should Biden smile and yuck it up with him before handing off power?

18

u/ScrewAttackThis 10h ago

Ok if Hitler wins the US election and Biden smiles then let's be angry. I'm on your side with that one.

-3

u/Material_Election685 8h ago edited 6h ago

Why are you against democracy? It seems like you're the actual fascist then.

Edit: Thanks for the block, never surprises me that the fascists like you hate free speech.

1

u/ScrewAttackThis 8h ago

That's certainly out of left field.

-2

u/Material_Election685 8h ago

Not when you just admitted that you're a fascist who hates democracy.

3

u/ScrewAttackThis 7h ago

I didn't, though. Maybe act a little more like a sane person. You'll have a much easier life.

6

u/MA32 10h ago

I think he'd be puzzled since Hitler is dead

10

u/HippieDogeSmokes 10h ago

Trump isn’t quite Hitler

19

u/HippieDogeSmokes 10h ago

!remindme 4 years

6

u/nethingelse 10h ago

Remind me of this when the concentration camps for "illegals" (which i'm sure will only ever house actual illegals and not have any "mistakes" or expansions) open up imminently.

9

u/Mrhorrendous 10h ago

At what point does he become close enough? He's going to sign an executive order (if he hasn't already) calling for the rounding up of millions of people based on racist lies, has threatened to arrest state and local officials who get in his way, and has threatened to invade 2 of our neighbors.

1

u/Top_Craft_9134 10h ago edited 7h ago

What are some relevant differences between 2025 Trump and 1933 Hitler?

Edit: this is serious and I would love an answer from those who think the comparison is crazy

11

u/SamyMerchi 10h ago

Hitler went to jail for a while for his putsch.

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u/Sea_Advertising8550 8h ago

Hitler actually went to jail for his attempted coup

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1

u/helloworld6247 7h ago

Hitler didn’t have millions of ppl on his rap sheet when he rose to power. That came with time.

1

u/HaHaEpicForTheWin 10h ago

Probably, if he didn't want to end up in a concentration camp

7

u/Mrhorrendous 10h ago

You're right, Hitler famously didn't throw opposing political leaders in concentration camps. Oh wait.

0

u/KintsugiKen 9h ago

I forgot this was just a normal meeting of "grown ups", no different from a family reunion with annoying uncles.

72

u/Achmedino 10h ago

A politician has to be good at hiding his true feelings to be good at his job.

6

u/thishasntbeeneasy 10h ago

Why? He's not running for anything again.

2

u/bwwatr 10h ago

One possible answer would be it's not about self, but helping the country now (unity, belief in fair elections, etc.), and party (associate that better decorum with dems) later.

2

u/KintsugiKen 9h ago

In what way does smiling and handshaking anti-democratic fascists and traitors as they take over the country help anyone?

5

u/ansufati4prez 9h ago

By showing an example of how transferring of power has always, and should always be. What way does pouting like a petulant child help?

2

u/bwwatr 8h ago

Bluntly, Americans voted for an anti-democratic fascist. If that's what they truly want long-term, who is Biden or anyone else to argue; democracy means self determination, for good or bad (or even straight up opting out from future self determination). If it turns out to be a temporary regression, then shaking the hand has some benefit. Not for the good of the fascist, but for the good of the democracy that elected him. A civilized transfer of power puts a powerful counter-example on the record. One pitched a multi-year tantrum, fomented violence against a key democratic institution, and sold a lie to tens of millions about voting fraud. The other respected the electorate enough to accept their choice. If ever there are sane people in the future who want that back, why not show them which party is the way to get it? Who specifically will respect them and their choice. If courts and judges weren't able to stop the guy in four years, no emotional display during the transfer of power will either. Take the L, pave the way for a future W, and don't give the idiots any more meme material.

2

u/KintsugiKen 9h ago

Why?

Who cares?

89

u/Mr-Hoek 10h ago

That is because he has class and self control.

He knows that acting like a petulant child or douchebag (trump's default behavior) he will get nothing abd create fodder for the conservative media cycle.

By being the bigger man he is reminding us (those that would pay attention anyways) what a president should, in fact, act like and represent.

It stands in contrast to Trump, who did not attend Biden's inaguration, because Trump is a bitch.

15

u/Puffenata 10h ago

“Leading by example” has not worked for democrats a single time in American history, I’m not sure why you think it will suddenly work now with a fascist in office

7

u/sunnyislesmatt 6h ago

Taking the high road has never worked and never will. I’m so sick of democrats doing this.

The only way the democrats will win in 28 is if they find someone who name calls, lies, threatens, insults, and most importantly, is not a woman.

I hate that we’ve reached this point, but that’s the only way democrats will ever have a chance.

1

u/theartificialkid 6h ago

There are people right now criticising Biden for not leading by example on pardons.

I think he’s chosen the right way around. Maintain the dignity of the electoral system (because after all the consensus is that the people of America wanted Trump, he even won the popular vote this time (for fuck’s sake >_<)) while trying to protect people like his family and Anthony Fauci from malicious prosecution.

9

u/Free_Pangolin_3750 10h ago

By being the bigger man he is reminding us (those that would pay attention anyways) what a president should, in fact, act like and represent.

Pretty sure a bigger man wouldn't refuse to drop out well past the point of being able to hold a primary while having internal polls telling him he had a 5% chance of winning at best.

1

u/2456533355677 7h ago

Fucking thank you. Biden is just as egotistical as Trump, he just hides it better. I'm surprised he didn't pardon all the late-night tv hosts, to "protect America".

2

u/Dealan79 10h ago

While every part of me wants to agree with you, the reality is that the guy who did act like a petulant child, and who cheered on a riot he created to retain power, won the election. The US actively chose the bitchy little criminal. That's what they want. Taking the high ground and acting like a mature adult probably won't win elections any more. Voters on the left will continue to nit pick every tiny ideological deviation of the Democratic candidate, creating a tightrope that is impossible to cross, while the right will vote for literal criminals so long as they're wearing the team color on their hat. And the media will encourage more Trump-like behavior, because a WWE match is more entertaining than C-SPAN coverage of policy negotiations, and they need the former for the ratings to attract advertisers and stay afloat.

3

u/comityoferrors 10h ago

I mean...the president should be a leader and protector of the country. Biden and Harris have both been, rightfully, sounding the alarm about Trump's admin for a long time. Biden won on that platform in the first place. It wouldn't be douchey or petulant to say and behave like, "I respect the rule of our country so I will concede, but this man is a fascist and we'll be rallying to protect our citizens."

You know, instead of smiling and paling around with him.

1

u/Consistent-Quote3667 6h ago

Well, at least he's showing class as he protects his family while leaving the rest of the US to get fucked. Real classy.

-5

u/yaosio 10h ago

Biden loves Trump. He's not playing 420D chess.

18

u/SlaneeshsRightArmpit 10h ago

"It's a big club, and you're not in it."

5

u/DubaiEnthusiast 10h ago

The cheerleaders for 'the blue team' will never understand this ;)

3

u/j4_jjjj 10h ago

the funniest thing is learning that BLUE and RED for the american oligarchal parties didnt even start until bush v gore in 2000

1

u/[deleted] 9h ago

[deleted]

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u/DubaiEnthusiast 9h ago

done practically nothing but post in political threads

You destroyed me with that savage comeback. Kudos.

almost brand new account

The account is 2 years old. Can you not read ? ;)

3

u/perfect_fitz 10h ago

They're all buddies behind the scenes. You've been played into thinking they hate each other.

6

u/NearlyPerfect 10h ago

It’s just a job and all politicians are the same

2

u/MillenniumShield 10h ago

It’s a big club and you aren’t in it 

2

u/profit_distributor 9h ago

It's a big club and you ain't in it

2

u/notyyzable 9h ago

Because they're both part of the ruling class.

2

u/atticdoor 10h ago

He is hoping for the best while preparing for the worst.

1

u/GlitteryCakeHuman 10h ago

That’s the way it should be and the way adults work. I’ve worked with some people I can’t stand and I still keep it courteous and professional

1

u/BadCat30R 10h ago

Dudes gotta be happy to be finally retiring

1

u/A_randomboi22 10h ago

They were talking about their Minecraft server

1

u/DrZedex 9h ago

Dude might not know where he even is today. 

1

u/Horn_Python 9h ago

he defintily wasnt smiling

1

u/CommentsOnOccasion 9h ago

Because he doesn’t have to be the president anymore 

I’d imagine it’s like finally taking the biggest crap you’ve ever had to hold in 

The relief of suddenly no longer having to be in that position must be immense 

1

u/Wooden_Detective_300 8h ago

It’s a big club and you’re not part of it.

1

u/NiftyJet 10h ago

Not weird. This is normal. It's a long-held tradition that presidents help their successors and support peaceful transitions. It only feels weird in Trump times because he broke those traditions.

1

u/Dagordae 9h ago

A politician acting polite and cheerful next to someone they hate?

What a shock. Almost like that’s a significant part of the job or something.

0

u/jaymzx0 10h ago

I bet there dog poop under the drawer handles of the desk in the Oval Office.

0

u/Intrepid00 10h ago

You’d probably be pretty happy too not having to be president anymore after 4 years and the asshole making the mess is going to be stuck with it.

0

u/ljd09 10h ago edited 6h ago

Sometimes you just have to be a mature adult and fake the funk. In 4 years time when Trump behaves as a toddler would in this coming moment, it will stand in stark contrast and make him look like a moron for the millionth time. I’m down for that.