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◆ Mixed look for TrumpElections / Campaigns

'No more Mr. Nice guy': Trump bashes Rep. Henry Cuellar for running as a Democrat after pardon

Trump criticized Cuellar’s decision to run as a Democrat after pardoning him.

'No more Mr. Nice guy': Trump bashes Rep. Henry Cuellar for running as a Democrat after pardon
Image · Yahoo News

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Host credibilityYahoo News74/100 HIGH
This article1 analysis · Oct 12, 2026

Credibility rates Yahoo News, which republished this story. The other scores rate the article itself.

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Republished from NBC News, with credit to the original publisher.

NBC News85/100 HIGH

365 stories · 84.8–85.2 · updated Oct 13, 2026

This is NBC News's own score, and this article is credited to NBC News. The host score in the Source Check is Yahoo News's.

Yahoo Newsvia NBC News
Dec 7, 2025
tl;dr

President Donald Trump criticized Rep. Henry Cuellar for running as a Democrat after Trump pardoned him. Cuellar said he would work with Trump and filed to run as a Democrat, as the pardon and the congressman’s unresolved criminal case remain politically salient.

Community verdict

6 VOTES
How does this story look for
Donald Trump R · President of the United States

Counts every outlet’s report of this story. See all 25

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  • Readers of left-leaning coverage: not enough votes yet
  • Readers of right-leaning coverage: 60% good look
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Votes cast on this page: ▲ 0 · ◆ 0 · ▼ 0

People in this story

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Donald Trump
R · President of the United States

President who criticized Cuellar for running as a Democrat after receiving a pardon

PRIMARY SUBJECT
Henry Cuellar
D · TX-28

Texas representative and Democratic candidate criticized by Trump after receiving a pardon

Cuellar's version of this story ↗

House Minority Leader who supported Cuellar’s pardon

Kristi Noem
Former U.S. Representative (R-SD)

Homeland Security secretary whom Cuellar said he would like to meet

ALSO MENTIONED  Imelda Cuellar, Henry Cuellar’s wife and co-defendant in the case described; Tom Homan, Border czar whom Cuellar said he would like to meet

Part of a bigger story

23 OUTLETS
Trump Criticizes Cuellar After Pardoning Him

Outlets agree that Trump pardoned Representative Henry Cuellar and later criticized his plan to seek reelection as a Democrat. Left-leaning outlets portray Trump’s reaction as evidence that he expected political loyalty in return for the pardon, with some casting Cuellar as having outmaneuvered him. Center outlets mostly recount Trump’s criticism alongside Cuellar’s reelection plans and response, focusing on the public dispute. Right-leaning outlets stress Trump’s view that Cuellar’s continued Democratic affiliation shows disloyalty, with some presenting the pardon as an act of generosity.

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