President Donald Trump has unleashed a fiery critique of a Texas congressman who seems to have forgotten the meaning of gratitude.

Trump took to Truth Social on Sunday, December 7, 2025, to express his frustration with Democratic Rep. Henry Cuellar, who recently announced plans to seek reelection as a Democrat despite receiving presidential pardons for himself and his wife just days earlier, the Daily Caller reported. 

On Wednesday, December 3, 2025, Trump issued full pardons to Cuellar and his wife, Imelda, who had been charged by the Biden administration’s Justice Department with alleged bribery involving substantial sums of money.

Cuellar’s Legal Troubles and Trump’s Intervention

Federal prosecutors claimed the couple accepted around $600,000 from Azerbaijani officials and a Mexican financial institution between 2014 and 2021, accusing Cuellar of leveraging his congressional office to promote Azerbaijan’s interests—a charge both he and his wife have staunchly denied.

With a trial not slated until 2026, the legal cloud hung heavy over the Cuellar family, yet Trump stepped in with a pardon that wiped the slate clean.

One might think such a gesture would inspire a moment of reflection, but Cuellar’s immediate pivot to campaigning as a Democrat has raised eyebrows across the political spectrum.

Trump Questions Loyalty in Scathing Post

Trump didn’t hold back in his social media response, questioning how Cuellar could align with the very party that, in his view, sought to destroy the congressman’s family.

“Congressman Henry Cuellar announced that he will be ‘running’ for Congress again, in the Great State of Texas ... as a Democrat, continuing to work with the same Radical Left Scum that just weeks before wanted him and his wife to spend the rest of their lives in Prison,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

“Such a lack of LOYALTY, something that Texas Voters, and Henry’s daughters, will not like,” Trump added, delivering a pointed jab at what he sees as a stunning betrayal after his act of clemency.

Cuellar’s Centrist Stance and Bipartisan History

Cuellar, who has represented his heavily Hispanic South Texas district since 2005, remained in his House seat throughout the legal ordeal, positioning himself as a conservative Democrat and a centrist.

He’s no stranger to crossing party lines, often clashing with Democratic leadership over border policy and criticizing former President Joe Biden’s approach to immigration.

Earlier in 2025, Cuellar publicly called out fellow Democrats who opposed deporting an alleged MS-13 member, while also supporting Republican-backed measures on migrant crime and protecting women’s sports.

A Willingness to Work Across the Aisle?

In November 2025, Cuellar backed a bipartisan effort to reopen the government amid a shutdown, showcasing his willingness to find common ground.

Responding to Trump’s criticism, Cuellar emphasized his pragmatic approach, saying, “I’m a conservative Democrat, and I work across the lines, and I want to see the president succeed,” as he expressed openness to collaborating with Trump despite their differences.