WASHINGTON — In a recent post on Truth Social, President Donald Trump took aim at Congressman Henry Cuellar, expressing his displeasure over what he perceives as a major breach of loyalty after Cuellar opted to run as a Democrat following his pardon.
Trump remarked, “Such a lack of LOYALTY, something that Texas voters, and Henry’s daughters, will not like,” blaming Cuellar’s decision on his ties to Democrats. He then quipped, “Oh well, next time, no more Mr. Nice Guy!”
Last week, Trump announced he was pardoning Cuellar, who faced serious accusations of bribery and money laundering last year. Cuellar, at that time, expressed gratitude towards the President on X, commending him for his “tremendous leadership and for taking the time to look at the facts.”
When pressed whether any agreements were made with the Biden administration, Cuellar stated unequivocally to reporters, “no.”
In his Sunday statement, Trump claimed he never had any discussions with Cuellar or his family before declaring, “I felt very good about fighting for a family tormented by very sick and deranged people. They were treated soooo BADLY!”
Trump became increasingly vocal in addressing Cuellar’s political strategy. He accused the Congressman of associating with the same “Radical Left Scum that wanted him and his wife imprisoned just weeks before—and probably still do!”
NBC News has reached out to Cuellar’s office for further clarification.
According to the Texas Democratic Party’s unofficial candidate filings, Cuellar has registered to run as a Democrat, with the filing deadline looming on Monday.
Last May, both Cuellar and his wife Imelda were indicted on 14 charges, including bribery and money laundering, with some counts later dismissed. They maintained their innocence. Cuellar and Trump asserted the charges were politically motivated, though they presented no substantiating evidence about the influence of politics on the indictment.
The accusations purport that Cuellar and his wife accepted substantial bribes from an oil and gas firm based in Azerbaijan and a Mexican bank to sway official actions in their favor. The couple has consistently denied any wrongdoing, with Cuellar claiming the pardon provides respite and allows them to push forward for South Texas.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries shared his support for Cuellar’s pardon, stating in a CNN interview that he believed the decision was appropriate.
Despite ongoing Republican efforts to displace Cuellar from representation in South Texas, the Congressman has demonstrated considerable staying power in his district, having secured reelection in 2024, even amidst pending indictments in a Trump-favored area.
Following Trump’s guidance earlier this year, Texas Republicans undertook redistricting to provide more chances for GOP seats; however, Cuellar’s standing in votes remained robust as more Republicans were integrated into his district.
This article first appeared on NBCNews.com.
