NBC News political analyst Chuck Todd has strongly condemned President Biden's decision to pardon his son, Hunter, asserting that the action has inflicted substantial harm on the United States. During a Wednesday appearance on "Meet The Press NOW," Todd expressed concerns that this pardon establishes a precedent for future presidential pardons and that Biden's claim of unfair targeting of his son by the justice system undermines public trust in American institutions.

Todd's critique stemmed from his recent column, "The Trumpification of Joe Biden," which explores the potential damage to the rule of law caused by the pardon. He highlighted Biden's echo of Trump's rhetoric regarding the politicization of the Department of Justice, suggesting that this undermines faith in the justice system. He expressed concern that Biden's actions provide future presidents, particularly Trump, with justification for similar pardons.

Todd found two aspects of the pardon particularly troubling. First, he criticized Biden for mirroring Trump's language about the weaponization of the DOJ, stating it's not typical of Biden's past stance on the rule of law. Second, he warned of the potential for future presidents to issue "security blanket pardons" upon leaving office, citing the ten-year window of Biden's pardon for Hunter as a concerning precedent.

Todd's remarks on "Meet The Press NOW" follow a Substack interview with Chris Cillizza where he predicted Biden's pardon of Hunter. In that interview, Todd expressed the view that Biden would not leave office without protecting his son and questioned whether Biden should have run for president given the family drama, suggesting it made him "emotionally incapable."