Trump Pardons NBA YoungBoy, Larry Hoover, Multiple High-Profile Figures

President Donald Trump granted a pardon to Louisiana rapper Kentrell DeSean Gaulden, known as NBA YoungBoy, as part of a broader clemency initiative that also included figures like Larry Hoover and the Chrisleys. Gaulden, 25, had been sentenced to 23 months in prison for federal gun charges and pleaded guilty to prescription drug fraud, serving 11 months before his release to a halfway house. His pardon forgives his federal crimes but does not erase his convictions, allowing him to avoid probation terms such as drug testing. Gaulden expressed gratitude to Trump and Pardon Czar Alice Marie Johnson, who Trump appointed to oversee clemency efforts following her own sentence commutation in 2018. The decision sparked debate, with critics labeling some pardoned individuals as undeserving, while supporters view the clemency as a second chance for cultural icons. Gaulden’s upcoming 2025 MASA Tour marks a significant comeback, as he aims to focus on his family and career after years of legal battles.