Trump Pardons Binance Founder Zhao After Prison Term
The Spin
Republican narrative
This pardon corrects a massive injustice from Biden's anti-crypto crusade. Unlike actual fraudsters who stole customer funds, Zhao ran a legitimate exchange where withdrawals always worked — his only violation was compliance paperwork, not real criminal behavior. Trump has upheld his commitment to innovation and justice.
Democratic narrative
Trump's pardon of a convicted money launderer, who enabled terrorist financing, is just the latest example of criminals gaining clemency by being the president's business partner. This instance of brazen corruption came after Binance struck a deal with Trump's crypto company, generating tens of millions annually for the Trump family.
Cynical narrative
The presidential pardon power should be abolished. For far too long, presidents from both political parties — through a quirk in history — have had a get-out-of-jail-free card to use at their whims, leaving open the door to blatant corruption when in the wrong hands.
Metaculus Prediction
Public Figures
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