President Donald Trump has said he will consider pardoning the men convicted of plotting to kidnap Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, calling their prosecution a “railroad job.” The plot was hardly theoretical—FBI agents and informants gathered damning evidence, including secret recordings of the ringleaders discussing kidnapping Whitmer, conducting surveillance of her vacation home, and testing explosives. Members of the Wolverine Watchmen militia held training sessions, mapped escape routes, and even planned to blow up a bridge to slow down law enforcement during the attack.

Trump’s willingness to “take a look” at pardoning these individuals is deeply troubling. It sends a dangerous message that political violence and extremism are negotiable, especially when it targets Democratic leaders. Governor Whitmer has voiced her disappointment, emphasizing the need to denounce political violence no matter the target. She pointed out the hypocrisy of Trump’s stance, especially since she herself condemned the attempted assassination of Trump during a campaign event, regardless of party lines.

This is not the first time Trump has shown leniency to violent offenders. He has already pardoned individuals convicted of serious crimes, including leaders of extremist groups who attacked the U.S. Capitol on January 6. By even entertaining these pardons, Trump is normalizing threats and violence against public officials, undermining the rule of law, and appeasing the most extreme elements of his base.