During a rally in Tempe, Arizona, former President Donald Trump was pleasantly surprised to see former Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio in attendance.
“Thank you very much for being here,” Trump told the crowd, who greeted Arpaio with enthusiastic cheers. “That’s very nice. I didn’t know you were going to be here.”
Arpaio has been a staunch supporter of Trump, particularly on issues like immigration and border security. Trump spoke highly of the former sheriff, referring to him as “one of the greats of all time.”
Arpaio was convicted in 2017 for contempt of court related to a racial profiling case and was subsequently pardoned by Trump just two months later.
“He didn’t play games at the border,” Trump remarked as the audience cheered. “Sheriff Joe… he didn’t play games.”
Trump encouraged Arpaio to stand up during the rally, highlighting his accomplishments and asserting, “He got the job done, and he did it fairly.”
Arpaio holds the distinction of being the first individual pardoned during Trump’s presidency. Trump defended this controversial pardon, citing Arpaio’s age and his long-standing service to the nation.
At the time of the pardon, a White House statement noted, “Sheriff Joe Arpaio is now 85 years old, and after more than 50 years of admirable service to our nation, he is a worthy candidate for a Presidential pardon.”
Breaking with tradition, Trump pardoned Arpaio without consulting the Justice Department, a usual step for executive clemency.
In gratitude, Arpaio echoed Trump’s sentiments about being a victim of political persecution, posting on X (formerly Twitter), “Thank you @realdonaldtrump for seeing my conviction for what it is: a political witch hunt by holdovers in the Obama justice department!”
The backlash was swift, with civil rights organizations widely denouncing the pardon. The American Civil Liberties Union criticized the decision, claiming Trump “has chosen lawlessness over justice.” Concerns also arose from within Trump’s own party; Arizona’s Republican senators, Jeff Flake and John McCain, as well as then-House Speaker Paul Ryan, voiced their opposition, emphasizing the importance of respecting the rights of all individuals in law enforcement.