Donald Trump has criticized Democratic Representative Henry Cuellar for what he perceives as a “lack of loyalty,” following Cuellar’s decision not to switch to the Republican party after receiving a pardon from the former president.
Trump issued the pardon on Wednesday, stating that the Texas representative, who faced bribery and money laundering charges last year, was a political target of the Biden administration after he “bravely spoke out against Open Borders.”
Shortly after the pardon, Cuellar filed for re-election as a Democrat, thwarting Republican hopes that he might switch parties and bolster their narrow majority in the House of Representatives.
“Such a lack of LOYALTY,” Trump posted on social media regarding Cuellar’s decision. “Oh’ well, next time, no more Mr. Nice guy!”
The Justice Department, under the Biden administration, had accused Cuellar and his wife of accepting $600,000 from Azerbaijan’s state-owned oil company and a Mexican bank in exchange for advancing their interests in Congress.
The couple, who have denied the charges, faced 14 counts in 2024, including conspiracy, bribery, wire fraud, money laundering, and violating the ban on acting as agents of a foreign entity.
In his Sunday social media post, Trump alleged that “radical left” Democrats were “mercilessly” targeting Cuellar, a moderate Democrat, in an “evil quest” to “destroy” him and his family, “all because Henry strongly wanted, correctly, BORDER SECURITY!”
Trump stated that he had never spoken to the congressman or his family but “felt very good about fighting” for them because they were “treated sooo BADLY!”
Trump further noted that despite the pardon, Cuellar chose to run again as a Democrat, “continuing to work with the same Radical Left Scum that just weeks before wanted him and his wife to spend the rest of their lives in Prison – And probably still do!”
Trump suggested that this “lack of loyalty” would not resonate well with Texas voters or Cuellar’s daughters, who had appealed to the president to pardon their parents.
However, Cuellar reaffirmed his commitment to the Democratic party, telling Fox News on Sunday: “I’m an American, I’m a Texan and I’m a Democrat – in that order.”
When asked to comment on Trump’s post, Cuellar stated: “I am a conservative Democrat, but I will work with the president.”
Cuellar added that Trump was in his thoughts during church on Sunday morning.
“I prayed for the president,” he said. “I prayed for his family, and I prayed for the presidency because if the president succeeds, the country succeeds.”
Trump’s criticism of Cuellar reflects his broader expectation of loyalty from those he assists.
Last month, a group of federal labor unions filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration regarding a “loyalty question” included in thousands of federal job applications. The question asked applicants to identify Trump policy initiatives of personal significance and describe how they would advance Trump’s agenda.
Trump has long emphasized the importance of loyalty to him.
“I value loyalty above everything else – more than brains, more than drive, and more than energy,” he once said.
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