The White House commented on the pardon of Changpeng Zhao

White House Press Secretary Caroline Leavitt issued an official statement regarding the pardon of Changpeng Zhao, the former CEO of the Binance exchange. This decision sparked widespread controversy and criticism from Democrats, who claim the pardon was linked to Donald Trump and his family's business interests in the cryptocurrency sector.

Changpeng Zhao's Pardon Process

Leavitt emphasized that each pardon request undergoes a thorough review. She said Zhao's case was reviewed by the Justice Department and a team of experts before it reached the president. "When it comes to pardons, the White House takes them extremely seriously," she noted.

As a reminder, Changpeng Zhao was pardoned in late October 2025. Commenting on the situation, Trump stated that he does not know Zhao personally but considers his case an example of the Biden administration's anti-cryptocurrency policy.

Criticism from Democrats

Zhao's case has sparked criticism among Democrats, who have demanded a full investigation by the US Department of Justice. They have pointed to possible ties between Binance and the Trump family's cryptocurrency business, which, in their view, calls into question the objectivity of the pardon decision.

Leavitt also cited the judge in Zhao's case, who allegedly stated that the punishment requested by prosecutors was "excessive and too harsh." "The President simply corrected this error and ended the Biden administration's war on crypto," the press secretary concluded.

Other Briefing Topics

During the briefing, Caroline Leavitt also touched on other pressing issues, including the current government shutdown and its impact on various sectors. She noted that the administration continues to work on these issues, despite political differences.

In Conclusion

Thus, the pardon of Changpeng Zhao has become not only an important event in the world of cryptocurrency, but also a subject of political controversy, highlighting the complex relationships between the various branches of government in the United States.