During an interview with Norah O’Donnell on CBS News’ 60 Minutes, Donald Trump admitted he doesn’t know who Changpeng Zhao is — the cryptocurrency billionaire he pardoned last month with ties to the first family’s own crypto venture.
“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,” said O’Donnell before asking, “Why did you pardon him?”
Trump replied, “Okay, are you ready? I don’t know who he is….I heard it was a Biden witch hunt.”
When O’Donnell pressed Trump about the “optics” of pardoning Zhao – after his company helped Trump’s family crypto business, World Liberty Financial, score billions – Trump added:
“Well, here’s the thing, I know nothing about it because I’m too busy doing the other…My sons are involved in crypto much more than I– me. I–I know very little about it, other than one thing. It’s a huge industry.”
Can you imagine the reaction if Joe Biden said he pardoned someone because Hunter told him to?
Reporter: Changpeng Zhao pled guilty in 2023 to violating anti–money laundering laws. Why did you pardon him?
Trump: Okay, are you ready? I don’t know who he is.pic.twitter.com/UohLoUgmhr
— Acyn (@Acyn) November 3, 2025
When O’Donnell asked if he was concerned “about the appearance of corruption,” and Trump appeared to get flustered.
“I can’t say, because… I can’t say…I’m not concerned. I don’t… I’d rather not have you ask the question,” Trump said, according to the full transcript of the interview via CBS News.
It’s worth noting that Trump’s televised interview was only 28 minutes long, with CBS also releasing a 73-minute extended cut online. But neither video contained Trump’s answer regarding Changpeng Zhao.
That’s rather ironic considering that CBS’s parent company, Paramount, reached a $16 million settlement with Trump in July over a frivolous lawsuit where Trump claimed an interview with his 2024 Democratic opponent, Kamala Harris, was deceptively edited.
And then you factor in the right-wing shift the company has taken following Trump allies Larry and David Ellison’s takeover of Paramount.
Fact-checkers like Mehdi Hasan found at least 18 lies Trump told during the interview.
FACT-CHECK: @mehdirhasan debunks a few of the lies Trump told that @60Minutes @NorahODonnell allowed to go completely unchallenged.
(Trump seemed to know there would be no pushback under Bari Weiss — Norah seemed like a hostage. #RIPCBS) https://t.co/yFM9QAUv5B pic.twitter.com/LKNcDB9a2G
— The Tennessee Holler (@TheTNHoller) November 3, 2025
Last week, Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-LA) was very critical of pardons issued by President Biden saying any pardons that were signed via auto pen without clear consent from Biden should be looked at.
In this case, Trump is saying he didn’t know anything about Zhao’s case.
CNN’s Manu Raju asked Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-LA) about Trump’s admission. Johnson quickly deflected.
Mike Johnson: “Every executive action signed by the autopen without written authorization should be voided … including all the pardons that he signed.” pic.twitter.com/paLWvQxbag
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) October 28, 2025
Raju: Last week, you were very critical of Biden, you said he didn’t even know who he was pardoning. On 60 minutes, Trump admitted not knowing he pardoned a crypto billionaire guilty of money laundering.
Johnson: I don’t know anything about it. pic.twitter.com/suXr5keDaJ
— Acyn (@Acyn) November 3, 2025
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