Former U.S. President Donald Trump has revealed plans to pardon reality television personalities Todd and Julie Chrisley, who are currently serving prison sentences for convictions on bank fraud and tax evasion charges dating back to 2022. The announcement was made public on Tuesday, marking another high-profile use of presidential clemency by Trump for individuals aligned with his political and cultural base.
Trump, who rose to fame as a reality TV host before his political career, personally called Savannah Chrisley—the daughter of the “Chrisley Knows Best” stars—to deliver the news. During the phone conversation, he told her, “Your parents are going to be free and clean and I hope we can do it by tomorrow.” The call was recorded and shared on the social media platform X by White House adviser Margo Martin.
In the video, Trump can be heard expressing his concern over what he described as the couple’s “pretty harsh treatment,” suggesting their sentencing may have been overly severe. Savannah Chrisley, an outspoken Trump supporter who addressed the Republican National Convention last year, appeared emotional during the call.
This decision follows Trump’s broader trend of using presidential pardon powers to support allies and loyalists. On his first day back in office—January 20—the 78-year-old Republican issued a sweeping pardon for all individuals charged in connection with the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot, a move that drew intense scrutiny and legal debate.
Ed Martin, the administration’s newly appointed pardon attorney, echoed the president’s approach in a post on X earlier this week, stating, “No MAGA left behind,” a nod to Trump’s “Make America Great Again” campaign slogan.
The former president himself has faced legal challenges, including a 2024 conviction on 34 counts of falsifying business records related to a hush money payment made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels. Despite this, Trump continues to wield significant influence within the Republican Party and among conservative supporters.
