Biden's final days of presidency: Plans for pardons, Israel, and domestic terrorism

Biden and his administration have plans to provide additional military aid for Israel, implement additional pardons, and take measures to prevent homegrown political extremism before passing the baton to President-elect Trump and his team.

Biden will conclude his presidency with a final international trip, visiting Italy and Vatican City to meet with Pope Francis, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and President Sergio Mattarella. The purpose of Biden's trip to the Vatican is to discuss ways to promote peace worldwide with Pope Francis. During his time with Italy's leaders, Biden will emphasize the strength of the U.S.-Italy alliance and thank Meloni for her leadership of the G7. The two will also discuss the challenges facing the world's leading nations.

According to sources in the Biden administration, the president will deliver two speeches upon his return from overseas before Trump's inauguration. The first speech will focus on foreign policy, while the second will be a farewell address. Neither speech has been fully drafted, sources said on Saturday.

Biden is reportedly considering pardons for those given harsh sentences, combating domestic extremism, and providing Israel with $8 billion in military funding during its conflict with Hamas, according to sources.

Biden set a record for the largest single-day act of clemency by commuting the sentences of roughly 1,500 people in mid-December. Sources also revealed that Biden was still considering pre-emptive pardons for those who might face political retribution from Trump.

The Department of Justice is considering whether to prosecute 200 more cases related to the Jan. 6 events before Trump leaves office, during which he may grant pardons to those convicted.

Biden and his administration have no plans to strengthen protections for transgender student athletes or cancel any more student loan debt, as reported by the Associated Press.

Criticism of Biden's actions following Trump's election victory in November has come from both sides of the political spectrum.

"The current Democratic administration is one of the weakest we've seen, with no leadership coming from the White House," a spokesperson for progressive nonprofit Justice Democrats stated last month. "There is a complete absence of leadership," a Democrat close to senior lawmakers also said. "There is a total void."

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee and other Democrat lawmakers expressed their anger at Biden's failure to oppose several of Trump's Cabinet nominees.

Biden's actions during his final weeks in office have been criticized by Republicans as a disregard for the will of the American people who voted for Trump.

GOP campaign strategist Colin Reed stated that President Biden is governing as a far-left ideologue, determined to move the country away from the wishes of the voters.

Steve Milloy, an American Energy Institute fellow, stated that while Trump has the power to undo Biden's actions, Biden is attempting to set up legal challenges to discourage investors from working on public lands. This move is part of a series of actions Biden has taken to protect his green energy initiatives from Trump's plans to reverse them.

In an interview on Monday, Trump criticized Biden's last-minute policy decisions, claiming they were making a "smooth transition" more difficult.

"Trump stated in an interview with conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt that he believes the Biden administration's decision to ban all oil and gas drilling across 625 million acres of U.S. coastal territory is "just ridiculous." He also expressed his intention to immediately unban it, stating that he has the right to do so. Trump emphasized that the United States has something unique and valuable, and that it will become even more valuable in the future as he continues to expand it."

The White House did not respond to Planet Chronicle Digital's request for comment by the time of publication.