Donald J. Trump pardons 6 people he says were jailed for “fixing their car”

signed pardons for six individuals he claims the Biden administration persecuted, calling the cases part of government “weaponization.”

First Published: July 3, 2026, 7:44 PM EST

WHITE HOUSE — Donald J. Trump announced he signed pardons for six people he said were imprisoned for “fixing their car” on a Truth Social post on July 3, 2026 at 2:24 PM EST.

Here is the full post (see truthsocial): “It is my Great Honor to have just signed Pardons for six people who were persecuted by the Biden Administration, and were in, or being sent to, prison, for “fixing their car.” While I know this sounds ridiculous, it is nevertheless a fact, and part of the Weaponization and Stupidity that our Country had to endure during four long years of Sleepy Joe Biden. I AM SETTING THEM ALL FREE, RIGHT NOW! Donald J. Trump”

Trump described the pardons as a correction of what he called “Weaponization and Stupidity” under the Biden administration. He did not name the six recipients or specify the federal charges they faced. The phrase “fixing their car” appeared to be Trump’s characterization of the underlying conduct, though no court records or case details were provided in the post.

The president holds broad constitutional authority to grant pardons for federal offenses under Article II of the Constitution. That power extends to commutations, reprieves, and full pardons, and requires no approval from Congress or the courts (see quora.com). Presidents have used the pardon power throughout American history to address cases they view as unjust or politically motivated.

Trump’s announcement did not clarify the specific statutes under which the six individuals were convicted. Federal automotive-related offenses can range from Clean Air Act violations tied to emissions tampering to fraud charges connected to vehicle modifications. Without names or case numbers, the scope and legal basis of the pardons remain unclear.

The post fits a pattern of Trump using his pardon authority to challenge prosecutions he frames as government overreach. Trump has issued pardons and commutations in multiple high-profile cases during his time in office, often citing what he describes as unfair treatment by federal prosecutors.

Trump posted the announcement on his Truth Social platform and signed it “Donald J. Trump” (see truthsocial). The post did not include links to supporting documents, court filings, or official White House statements.

In the last 30 days, 22 of 507 Trump posts on Truth Social addressed the topic of “Legal,” making it a recurring theme in his social media activity during this period.