Trump Hints at Further Mass Pardons as White House Dismisses Report as 'Joke'
President Donald Trump has reportedly indicated that more mass pardons could be forthcoming, following his earlier clemency grants to participants in the 6 January 2021 US Capitol attack. According to a Wall Street Journal report citing an anonymous source, Trump told a meeting, "I'll pardon everyone who has come within 200 feet of the Oval [Office]," eliciting laughter from attendees.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt responded to the report by stating, "The Wall Street Journal should learn to take a joke. However, the president's pardon power is absolute." This comes after Trump granted unconditional pardons to 1,500 individuals involved in the Capitol riot at the start of his presidency, with over 1,800 people receiving clemency since he began his second term.
Vance Announces Failure of US-Iran Peace Talks in Islamabad
Meanwhile, Vice-President JD Vance departed Islamabad on Sunday local time after historic peace talks with Iran broke down. Vance announced that the United States and Iran failed to reach an agreement following 21 hours of negotiations, citing significant differences over nuclear weapons development as a key sticking point.
"The bad news is that we have not reached an agreement, and I think that's bad news for Iran much more than it's bad news for the United States of America," Vance stated. He revealed that he had spoken with President Trump at least half a dozen times during the talks. Iran's semi-official Tasnim news agency attributed the failure to "excessive" US demands.
Other Key Developments in US Politics
Several other significant stories emerged on Saturday 11 April 2026:
- The Manhattan district attorney's office is investigating sexual assault allegations against Democratic congressman Eric Swalwell, who is running for governor of California. Swalwell has denied claims by an unnamed woman.
- The US State Department revoked green cards of three Iranian nationals linked to the regime, including the son of a revolutionary involved in the 1979 Iran hostage crisis, leading to their arrest by federal agents.
- Pope Leo XIV, the first US-born pope, called for an end to war during a peace vigil in Vatican City, criticizing the "delusion of omnipotence" in international affairs.
- Additional developments include Louisiana Republicans moving to eliminate a court office and Washington officials identifying 21 dead canines that washed ashore as foxes.
These events highlight ongoing tensions in US domestic and foreign policy as the Trump administration navigates complex political landscapes.
