(WASHINGTON) -- President Donald Trump said in an interview out Thursday that he would be open to pardoning members of his administration, pointing to former President Joe Biden’s blanket pardon to relatives and members of the administration out of concern they would be politically targeted after he left office. 

"Yeah, sure, I'd do that," the president answered when asked by TIME magazine earlier this week if he was "considering pardoning members of your administration prior to the end of your term?"

The president further said that Biden "gave pardons to everyone."

Biden issued preemptive pardons to several close family members in the final minutes of his presidency in 2025, saying that his family "has been subjected to unrelenting attacks and threats, motivated solely by a desire to hurt me" and that he had "no reason to believe these attacks will end" after he left office.

Those pardons included James Biden, Joe's younger brother; Sara Jones Biden, James' wife; Valerie Biden Owens, Joe's younger sister; John T. Owens', Valerie's husband; and Francis W. Biden, Joe's younger brother.

In 2024, Biden pardoned his son Hunter Biden, who was convicted on tax evasion and federal gun charges.

Trump's pardon comments mark the first time he has publicly said he would consider pardoning members of his administration.

Last year, he issued pardons to some to his political and financial supporters as well as several high-profile individuals allegedly involved in his attempt to overturn the election. In his first term, he pardoned several advisers, members of his campaign and one former member of his administration, former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn.

In the interview, Trump expressed his belief that if the Democrats emerge victorious in the midterm elections, “they'll probably go after" him, but he said he will also target them back. 

Trump still expressed confidence that Republicans will "do okay" in November, as long as he is on the campaign trail. 

"No, I think we'll do OK if I campaign, and I intend to," he said, when asked if he believes that Democrats will take control of Congress.

He then went on to tout some of his endorsement victories including for Republicans Darline Graham and Ed Gallerin -- who defeated Rep. Thomas Massie in the primary for Kentucky’s 4th Congressional District.

Asked about his record low poll numbers, Trump called them "fake" and insisted that he could easily beat anybody who ran against him.

"They're fake numbers. I would beat anybody running today by 20 points," Trump said. "Your numbers that you have are fake."

Trump's cover of TIME magazine will mark his 56th such appearance, according to the outlet. That's more than any other figure in history, surpassing former President Richard Nixon's record.

Trump's interview will be the cover story for TIME's Oct. 26 issue.

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