NBA YoungBoy Receives Presidential Pardon from Donald Trump

NBA YoungBoy officially has a new lease on life, thanks to a presidential pardon granted by President Donald Trump.

On Wednesday, the 25-year-old rapper, whose real name is Kentrell Gaulden, released a public statement expressing his gratitude to Trump, criminal justice reform advocate Alice Marie Johnson, and his attorney, Brittany K. Barnett. The trio played a key role in helping him navigate the legal issues that have loomed over him for the past five years.

TMZ obtained a letter submitted to the White House by YoungBoy’s legal team at MGKB Law Corp. TMZ reports that the document detailed both his troubled legal history and his potential for a positive future, should he be given a second chance.

In his statement, YoungBoy described himself as “grateful, focused, and ready” to take advantage of this opportunity, vowing to stay on the right path. He noted the years spent dealing with weapons, assault, and drug charges since 2020, many of which left him on house arrest and distanced him from his former environment.

The timing of the pardon is notable, as NBA YoungBoy recently announced plans for his upcoming MASA Tour, and the legal clearance should now allow him to travel more freely.

Trump has been busy exercising his clemency powers this week. In addition to YoungBoy’s pardon, he granted a commutation to Gangster Disciples founder Larry Hoover and issued full pardons to reality TV stars Todd and Julie Chrisley.

What Is a Presidential Pardon?

A presidential pardon is a form of legal forgiveness granted by the President of the United States. It removes the penalties associated with a federal crime and restores certain rights that may have been lost due to a conviction, such as the right to vote or own a firearm.

The power to grant pardons is outlined in the U.S. Constitution, specifically in Article II, Section 2. It allows the president to issue pardons for federal offenses — but not for state crimes, which fall under the authority of governors.

A pardon doesn’t erase the crime from the person’s record, but it does officially forgive it. In some cases, presidents may also grant commutations, which reduce the length of a prison sentence without fully forgiving the offense.

Presidential pardons have been used throughout American history for a range of reasons, from acts of mercy to efforts at criminal justice reform, and sometimes even as political statements.