Donald Trump has accused Democrat Henry Cuellar of showing a “lack of loyalty” after the Texas congressman declined to join the Republican Party despite receiving a presidential pardon.
Trump issued the pardon on Wednesday, arguing that Cuellar — who was charged last year with bribery and money laundering — had been unfairly targeted by the Biden administration after he “bravely spoke out against Open Borders”.
Within hours of the pardon, Cuellar filed to run for re-election as a Democrat, undercutting Republican expectations that he might defect and strengthen their narrow House majority.
“Such a lack of LOYALTY,” Trump wrote on social media. “Oh’ well, next time, no more Mr. Nice guy!”
Prosecutors under the Biden administration alleged that Cuellar and his wife accepted $600,000 (£450,600) from Azerbaijan’s state-run oil company and an unnamed Mexican bank in exchange for supporting their interests in Congress.
The couple, who deny wrongdoing, were indicted on 14 counts in 2024, including conspiracy, bribery, wire fraud, money laundering and violating prohibitions on acting as agents of a foreign organisation.
In a social media post on Sunday, Trump claimed “radical left” Democrats had “mercilessly” pursued Cuellar — a moderate within the party — in an “evil quest” to “destroy” him and his family “all because Henry strongly wanted, correctly, BORDER SECURITY!”
Trump said he had never spoken to Cuellar or his family but “felt very good about fighting” for them because they had been “treated sooo BADLY!”
He added that Cuellar’s decision to continue his campaign as a Democrat showed he was “continuing to work with the same Radical Left Scum that just weeks before wanted him and his wife to spend the rest of their lives in Prison – And probably still do!”
Trump argued that such “lack of loyalty” would likely alienate Texas voters and even Cuellar’s daughters, who had appealed directly to him for a pardon.
Still, Cuellar reaffirmed his allegiance to his party, telling Fox News on Sunday: “I’m an American, I’m a Texan and I’m a Democrat – in that order.”
When asked to respond to Trump’s remarks, Cuellar said: “I am a conservative Democrat, but I will work with the president.”
He added that he thought of Trump during church earlier that day. “I prayed for the president,” he said. “I prayed for his family, and I prayed for the presidency because if the president succeeds, the country succeeds.”
Trump’s criticism of Cuellar highlights the president’s continued expectation of loyalty from those he aids.
Last month, several federal labour unions filed a lawsuit against the administration over a “loyalty question” included in thousands of federal job applications, asking applicants to identify Trump policy priorities and explain how they would advance them.
Trump has repeatedly stressed the importance he places on personal allegiance. “I value loyalty above everything else – more than brains, more than drive, and more than energy,” he once said.
