Can a President Pardon Himself?

March 24, 2026

Can a President pardon himself — and avoid criminal liability entirely?

The Constitution gives the president the power to grant pardons for federal offenses. It is a broad authority, used throughout American history.

But it leaves one important question unanswered:
Can a president pardon himself?

The Constitution does not say.

No president has ever attempted a self-pardon, and the Supreme Court has never ruled on whether one would be valid. That means the issue remains unsettled.

In thinking about the question, constitutional principles point in different directions.

On one hand, the pardon power is written broadly and does not explicitly exclude the president. On the other hand, a foundational principle of American law is that no person should be the judge in their own case — a principle that could weigh against the validity of a self-pardon.

What would happen if a president tried to pardon himself?

The issue would almost certainly be challenged in court, and the judiciary would ultimately have to decide whether such a pardon is consistent with the Constitution.

There are also important limits to keep in mind. A president’s pardon power applies only to federal offenses, not state crimes, and it does not affect the impeachment process.

The key point is this:

The Constitution grants significant authority, but it does not resolve every question in advance. Some questions — like this one — remain open until they are tested and interpreted through the legal system.