He doesn't even know who he's pardoning...
“NORAH O’DONNELL: The government at the time said that CZ had caused significant harm to U.S. national security essentially by allowing terrorist groups like Hamas to move millions of dollars around. Why did you pardon him?
DONALD TRUMP: OK, are you ready? I don’t know who he is. I know he got a four-month sentence or something like that and I heard it was a Biden witch hunt.”
NORAH O’DONNELL: How do you address the appearance of pay for play?
DONALD TRUMP: Well, here’s the thing. I know nothing about it because I’m too busy doing the other. I can only tell you that. No, I can only tell you this. Um, my sons are into it. I’m glad they are because it’s probably a great industry, crypto. I think it’s good.”
That answer pretty much leaves us with two options.
Option one: He’s lying — which would make sense, considering Zhao’s deal directly benefits his family.
Option two: He’s telling the truth, and really did sign off on a presidential pardon without knowing who it was for.