WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Donald Trump granted unconditional pardons to 1,500 people who participated in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol at the start of his second presidential term. Since then, Trump has granted clemency to more than 1,800 people in total.

"I'll pardon everyone who has come within 200 feet of the Oval [Office]." Trump said. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt addressed the remark. "The Wall Street Journal should learn to take a joke. However, the president's pardon power is absolute." Leavitt said.

In casual conversations over the last year, Trump has said he will issue mass pardons to his closest advisers at the end of his second presidential term. The Jan. 6 pardons were among the first clemency actions Trump took after being sworn in, and the total clemency figure of more than 1,800 people encompasses actions beyond the Jan. 6 cases.