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President Donald Trump on Sunday sharply criticized Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Texas, accusing him of showing “a lack of loyalty” by running for re-election as a Democrat just days after receiving a presidential pardon.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump wrote that Texas voters — and Cuellar’s daughters — “will not like” his decision to remain in the Democratic Party. “Oh’ well, next time, no more Mr. Nice guy!” the president said.
Trump pardoned Cuellar last week, clearing the congressman and his wife of remaining charges stemming from a 2024 federal indictment that had alleged bribery, wire fraud and money laundering. Cuellar thanked Trump at the time, praising the president’s “tremendous leadership” and reiterating his longstanding argument that the charges were politically motivated. Prosecutors have denied political influence, and neither side has provided evidence supporting the claim.
In his Sunday post, Trump said he had “never spoke to the Congressman, his wife, or his daughters,” but felt compelled to intervene on behalf of a family he said had been “tormented by very sick and deranged people.” He accused Cuellar of continuing to side with Democrats whom Trump described as having previously sought to imprison the couple “for the rest of their lives.”
Cuellar responded hours later on Fox News’ “Sunday Morning Futures,” saying he prayed for Trump and his family that morning. “I don’t vote party, I vote for what’s right for the country,” he said, describing himself as “a conservative Democrat” who intends to work with the president. He also said he would welcome meetings with border czar Tom Homan and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to discuss shared priorities.
Cuellar filed to run for re-election as a Democrat, according to the Texas Democratic Party’s unofficial tracking list. The state’s filing deadline is Monday.
Cuellar and his wife, Imelda, had pleaded not guilty to all 14 counts brought in May 2024. Two charges related to alleged violations of the Foreign Agent Registration Act were later dismissed. Prosecutors said the couple accepted hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes from an Azerbaijani oil and gas company and a Mexican bank in exchange for official acts, allegations the congressman has repeatedly denied.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries last week said he supported Trump’s decision to pardon Cuellar, calling it “exactly the right outcome” in an interview with CNN.
Cuellar has long been a political outlier — a conservative Democrat who has repeatedly survived well-funded Republican attempts to unseat him in a South Texas district that Trump carried by about seven points in 2024. Texas Republicans, encouraged by Trump, redrew the district earlier this year to add more GOP voters in hopes of flipping the seat in 2026.
Cuellar’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
