Blue Press Journal – In a jaw-dropping interview with “60 Minutes” that aired on Sunday, former President Donald Trump claimed he didn’t know Changpeng Zhao, the founder of Binance cryptocurrency exchange, despite pardoning him just two weeks ago. The stunning revelation has sparked outrage and raised serious concerns about Trump’s mental fitness or his willingness to deceive the American public.
According to “60 Minutes” correspondent Norah O’Donnell, Zhao was convicted in 2023 of violating anti-money-laundering laws, causing “significant harm to U.S. national security” by allowing terrorist groups like Hamas to launder millions of dollars. Trump’s response to O’Donnell’s questioning was astounding: “I don’t know who he is. I know he got a four-month sentence or something like that. And I heard it was a Biden witch hunt.”
The facts surrounding Zhao’s pardon are damning. Binance, under his leadership, failed to report suspicious activity, including transactions linked to terrorist organizations and child exploitation websites. Zhao pleaded guilty to failing to maintain an effective anti-money-laundering program and stepped down as head of the company. Moreover, Binance has had a suspiciously cozy relationship with the Trump family, supporting their lucrative foray into cryptocurrency ventures.
The hypocrisy is glaring. Trump’s allies have long railed against President Joe Biden’s use of an autopen, claiming it invalidated his actions. Yet, when confronted with his own pardon of Zhao, Trump claims he didn’t know who he was pardoning. The double standard is stark.
It’s impossible to give Trump the benefit of the doubt. Either he is suffering from dementia, unable to recall significant decisions he made as President, or he is lying to the American people. The evidence suggests the latter is more plausible, given the lucrative ties between Binance and the Trump family.
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