White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that the pardon of Binance founder Changpeng Zhao underwent a rigorous review process before reaching President Trump's desk. Speaking at a press conference, Leavitt emphasized the standard procedures followed, asserting the process was handled with "extreme seriousness." The pardon has sparked controversy, with Trump defending his decision in a CBS News interview, labeling the prosecution as "political persecution" by the Biden administration. Leavitt clarified that Trump's comments were meant to indicate he had no personal relationship with Zhao, countering claims of bias in the pardon decision.