The White House confirmed that on May 28, 2025, President Donald Trump pardoned rapper Kentrell DeSean Gaulden, known as NBA YoungBoy, as part of a broader clemency initiative.
The decision forgives Gaulden’s federal crimes but does not erase his convictions, sparking public debate about Trump’s pardon priorities.
Gaulden, 25, was sentenced to 23 months in December 2024 for federal gun charges from a 2020 Louisiana arrest and a 2024 Utah case. He served 11 months before his March 24, 2025, release to a Phoenix halfway house. He also faced 63 charges in a 2023 prescription drug fraud case, pleading guilty to 10, with a $25,000 fine and five years’ probation.
In an Instagram Story, Gaulden expressed gratitude: “I want to thank President Trump for granting me a pardon… This moment means a lot,” crediting Pardon Czar Alice Marie Johnson and lawyer Brittany K. Barnett.
President Trump has officially pardoned NBA YoungBoy.
(via FOX News) pic.twitter.com/iaIxdVyNdA
— Kurrco (@Kurrco) May 28, 2025YoungBoy’s Legal and Music Legacy
Rising to prominence with mixtapes like “38 Baby,” Gaulden’s powerful lyrics and 16.3 million monthly Spotify listeners have earned him billions of streams, despite facing legal troubles since 2014, which include charges of robbery, attempted murder, and drug offences. His upcoming MASA Tour in 2025, starting on September 2, marks a significant comeback for him. Additionally, a 2019 shooting outside the Trump International Hotel in Miami, in which gunfire from his crew resulted in the death of an innocent bystander, previously connected him to Donald Trump’s circle.
On May 28, Trump granted clemency to 25 individuals, including figures like Larry Hoover and the Chrisleys, which underscores his opposition to a “politicised justice system.” Conservative commentator George Behizy criticised the pardoning of individuals he labelled as “thugs,” such as Gaulden, while advocating for clemency for “heroes” like Edward Snowden.
NBA YoungBoy posts a message to Donald Trump after being granted a pardon‼️👀
“I want to thank President Trump for granting me a pardon and giving me the opportunity to
keep building – as a man, as a father, and as an artist.” pic.twitter.com/x3dDxcTIlU
— RapTV (@Rap) May 28, 2025Supporters of Trump, however, view these pardons as a second chance for cultural icons. Legal analyst Dr. Sanjay Gupta from Stanford commented, “Trump’s pardons combine elements of populism and personal loyalty, but it remains unclear what their long-term effects will be on justice reform.”
The pardon highlights Trump’s clemency strategy and Gaulden’s influence, but raises questions about judicial fairness.
