On CBS’s 60 Minutes, President Donald Trump said he didn’t know Binance founder Changpeng Zhao — despite pardoning him last month — and cast Zhao as a victim of Justice Department “weaponization.” Zhao, who pleaded guilty in 2023 to enabling money laundering and received a four-month sentence, has business ties to World Liberty Financial, co-founded by Trump’s sons. Pressed on a conflict of interest, Trump said he knew nothing. The pardon drew pushback, including from Sen. Thom Tillis, as partisan disputes over autopen-signed pardons and Biden’s actions persisted.

Prepared by Lauren Mitchell and reviewed by editorial team.