Axelrod remarked, "I think also, he said, ‘did Biden do this?’ I think he wanted to set a contrast with [former President] Biden, by sort of having this rolling press conference." This interaction, which took place in the Oval Office just hours after Trump's swearing-in, was noted by CNN's Anderson Cooper as an uncommon occurrence.
According to Fox News, Axelrod emphasized the significance of a president's words, stating, "And there‘s a reason for it because the words of a president can actually send armies marching and markets tumbling and have real consequences."
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He further expressed his approval of the president's openness, saying, "I think it’s refreshing for presidents to be – I mean, I was among those who was critical of the lack of exposure of President Biden. And I think it’s good for presidents to be exposed. It’s better if they tell the truth when they’re doing it."
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However, Axelrod also voiced criticism of Trump's decision to pardon individuals involved in the January 6 Capitol riot, referring to them as "hostages."
Axelrod condemned the pardons, arguing, "These are people who either confessed or were convicted of crimes related to marauding the Capitol to try to stop the lawful process of certifying an American election."
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He attributed their actions to misinformation, stating, "And the only defense that I can think of for this action today is that those people went there because they were told an abject lie by the President of the United States that the election had been stolen and that something improper was happening."
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Seated at the Resolute desk, Trump authorized the release of over 1,500 individuals charged in connection with the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack. The directive mandates the Federal Bureau of Prisons to promptly execute the pardons.
Trump announced at a Washington event, "Tonight I'm going to be signing on the J6 hostages, pardons to get them out."
CNN's Kaitlan Collins highlighted that Trump engaged with the press for 45 minutes during this session.
