President Joe Biden on Monday issued preemptive pardons for prominent critics of President-elect Donald Trump and members of his own family, using extraordinary executive prerogative as a shield against revenge by his incoming successor.

Democratic strategist David Axelrod said Tuesday former President Biden gave “a gift” to President Trump by pardoning his family minutes before the latter’s inauguration. Calling the move “egregious,” Axelrod said Biden should not have done it at the end of his presidency.