Henry Cuellar vows cooperation with Trump after pardon despite Democratic reelection bid

WASHINGTON, DC: Representative Henry Cuellar (D-Texas) pushed back on Sunday, December 7, against President Donald Trump’s criticism regarding his decision to seek reelection as a Democrat.

The moderate lawmaker appeared on Fox News' 'Sunday Morning Futures' hours after the president publicly expressed regret over pardoning him from federal bribery charges earlier in the week.

Cuellar maintained a conciliatory tone despite the president's attacks.

"I was at church this morning with my wife. I prayed for the president, I prayed for his family, and I prayed for the presidency, because if the president succeeds, the country succeeds," Cuellar told host Maria Bartiromo.

Trump blasts 'lack of loyalty'

Earlier on Sunday, President Trump took to social media to lash out at Cuellar for filing for reelection as a Democrat shortly after accepting the presidential pardon.

Trump accused the Texas lawmaker of opting to "work with the same Radical Left Scum that just weeks before wanted him and his wife to spend the rest of their lives in Prison."

"Such a lack of LOYALTY, something that Texas Voters, and Henry’s daughters, will not like," the president wrote. "Oh’ well, next time, no more Mr Nice guy!"

Henry Cuellar invokes LBJ and refuses to switch parties

Despite the pressure, Cuellar made it clear he has no intention of switching parties, describing himself as a "conservative" member of the Democratic caucus.

He invoked the philosophy of a former Democratic president to explain his stance.

"I follow the words of President [Lyndon B Johnson], who said many years ago, ‘I’m an American, I’m a Texan, and I’m a Democrat, in that order,’" Cuellar said.

"And I think anybody that puts party before their country is doing a disservice to their country," he added.

Background of the bribery case

Cuellar and his wife Imelda were indicted on 14 counts in March 2024.

The Justice Department alleged the congressman accepted payments from an oil company owned by the Azerbaijan government and a Mexican bank.

While a judge dismissed two counts in August, the couple was set to face trial in 2026 before Trump intervened.

Cuellar has consistently maintained that the charges were politically motivated, arguing that the Biden administration targeted him due to his vocal criticism of White House immigration policies.

 Henry Cuellar wants to 'work with the president'

Looking ahead to the 2026 midterms, Cuellar signaled his willingness to cross the aisle, even if he remains on the Democratic ticket.

"I am a conservative Democrat, but I will work with the president," Cuellar affirmed. "If I can work and find common ground, then I certainly want to do that."