Unlike the late boxing champion Jack Johnson, President Trump has a personal history with the latest people he's considering pardoning. Trump on Thursday said that he was thinking about commuting the prison sentence for former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D) and issuing a presidential pardon to entrepreneur Martha Stewart, two former Apprentice participants.
Before Blagojevich was convicted of corruption charges, he was competing for glory on Trump's show, The Celebrity Apprentice. Shortly after Stewart went to jail for insider trading, she hosted a spinoff series of Trump's franchise, called The Apprentice: Martha Stewart.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Stewart, on the other hand, bounced back from her prison sentence by hosting her own version of the business competition show, though it only ran for one season. Trump and Stewart apparently got along swimmingly, making "one of The Donald's favorite meals, meatloaf" while merrily cooking with first lady Melania Trump on Stewart's show. Stewart lamented that she was "otherwise occupied" and had to decline her invitation to the Trumps' "gorgeous wedding." Trump's suggestion of clemency today is a far cry from their later feud, in which he said putting Stewart in the Apprentice franchise was "a mistake for everybody."
-
Cameron House Resort & Spa: a luxurious lakeside havenThe Week Recommends This stunning five-star resort on the shores of Loch Lomond is perfect for a special Scottish getaway
-
Albania’s AI government minister: a portent of things to come?In The Spotlight A bot called Diella has been tasked with tackling the country's notorious corruption problem
-
Hyatt Regency Lisbon: a tranquil oasis in the historic district of BelémThe Week Recommends With its sprawling spa and prime location overlooking the River Tagus, this luxury hotel is a great place to escape the bustle of the city
-
Florida erases rainbow crosswalk at Pulse nightclubSpeed Read The colorful crosswalk was outside the former LGBTQ nightclub where 49 people were killed in a 2016 shooting
-
Trump says Smithsonian too focused on slavery's illsSpeed Read The president would prefer the museum to highlight 'success,' 'brightness' and 'the future'
-
Trump to host Kennedy Honors for Kiss, StalloneSpeed Read Actor Sylvester Stallone and the glam-rock band Kiss were among those named as this year's inductees
-
White House seeks to bend Smithsonian to Trump's viewSpeed Read The Smithsonian Institution's 21 museums are under review to ensure their content aligns with the president's interpretation of American history
-
Charlamagne Tha God irks Trump with Epstein talkSpeed Read The radio host said the Jeffrey Epstein scandal could help 'traditional conservatives' take back the Republican Party
-
CBS cancels Colbert's 'Late Show'Speed Read 'The Late Show with Stephen Colbert' is ending next year
-
Shakespeare not an absent spouse, study proposesspeed read A letter fragment suggests that the Shakespeares lived together all along, says scholar Matthew Steggle
-
New Mexico to investigate death of Gene Hackman, wifespeed read The Oscar-winning actor and his wife Betsy Arakawa were found dead in their home with no signs of foul play
