Speculation is growing about the possibility that US President Donald Trump might pardon Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer convicted of killing George Floyd in 2020. In March this year, Trump told reporters he had not even heard of any request for a Chauvin pardon. Still, the rumours have intensified following his controversial clemency decisions, including the January 2025 pardons of two Washington, D.C. officers convicted in a separate police killing. Calls for Chauvin’s release have resurfaced on X (formerly Twitter), with many supporters demanding a pardon. This renewed debate has once again pushed the Black Lives Matter movement into the spotlight. The key question remains: Is a pardon truly on the table, or is this just political posturing?
What sparked the speculation
The rumours gained traction after Trump pardoned two Washington, D.C. police officers convicted in the 2020 killing of Karon Hylton-Brown, a Black man. That decision was seen by some as a signal that Chauvin could be next. The speculation was further fueled by far-right influencers and Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, who publicly supported clemency for Chauvin and reiterated claims that George Floyd died from a drug overdose. Greene used the platform X to demand Chauvin’s release. She posted her support for a pardon and repeated the narrative that George Floyd died of a drug overdose rather than from Chauvin’s actions. These online campaigns caused related hashtags to trend, pushing the Black Lives Matter movement back into the conversation.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and other Democratic leaders also added sparks to these claims by noting that while the Trump administration had provided no official signal of a pardon, such a move wouldn’t be surprising given the president’s controversial record on criminal justice and past pardons. Walz clarified that even if Trump were to pardon Chauvin for his federal conviction, it would not result in his release. Chauvin would instead serve the remainder of his 22-and-a-half-year sentence for second-degree unintentional murder in a Minnesota state prison.
Donald Trump's response
Trump was asked about the possibility of a Chauvin pardon during a White House appearance in March 2025. His response was unequivocal: “No, I haven’t even heard about it.” Since then, neither he nor his campaign has offered any further statements suggesting a change in that position.
State and federal sentences: What would a pardon actually do
Even if Trump were to pardon Chauvin’s federal conviction, it wouldn’t mean immediate freedom for the former officer. Chauvin is currently serving a 22.5-year sentence for second-degree unintentional murder under Minnesota state law, alongside a concurrent 21-year federal sentence for violating Floyd’s civil rights. As Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison clarified, “A federal pardon would only transfer Chauvin back to Minnesota to serve his state sentence.”
Officials brace for public reaction
In light of the growing speculation, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis city officials have acknowledged the potential for unrest. Walz, who was Vice President Kamala Harris’ running mate in 2024, told reporters that although there has been no official signal from Trump’s team, they are preparing for “any eventuality.” Minneapolis Community Safety Commissioner Toddrick Barnette also stated that emergency plans have been updated since 2020 to address such scenarios.
Chauvin's background and conviction
Derek Chauvin was a Minneapolis police officer from 2001 until his termination in 2020. On May 25 of that year, he knelt on George Floyd’s neck during an arrest over a counterfeit $20 bill. Floyd’s death, captured on video, triggered global protests under the Black Lives Matter banner. Chauvin was convicted on charges of second-degree murder, third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter in 2021. His appeals to the Minnesota Supreme Court and the U.S. Supreme Court were denied.
A deeper political undercurrent
The debate over Chauvin's potential pardon is emblematic of a broader cultural and political divide in America. For some on the far right, the Chauvin case symbolises what they view as the unjust treatment of police officers. For others, particularly in communities of colour, the possibility of a pardon is seen as a dangerous rollback of hard-won accountability.
While the Trump camp has denied any current effort to pardon Chauvin, the president’s unpredictable style and political leanings leave room for doubt in the minds of many observers.
What sparked the speculation
The rumours gained traction after Trump pardoned two Washington, D.C. police officers convicted in the 2020 killing of Karon Hylton-Brown, a Black man. That decision was seen by some as a signal that Chauvin could be next. The speculation was further fueled by far-right influencers and Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, who publicly supported clemency for Chauvin and reiterated claims that George Floyd died from a drug overdose. Greene used the platform X to demand Chauvin’s release. She posted her support for a pardon and repeated the narrative that George Floyd died of a drug overdose rather than from Chauvin’s actions. These online campaigns caused related hashtags to trend, pushing the Black Lives Matter movement back into the conversation.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and other Democratic leaders also added sparks to these claims by noting that while the Trump administration had provided no official signal of a pardon, such a move wouldn’t be surprising given the president’s controversial record on criminal justice and past pardons. Walz clarified that even if Trump were to pardon Chauvin for his federal conviction, it would not result in his release. Chauvin would instead serve the remainder of his 22-and-a-half-year sentence for second-degree unintentional murder in a Minnesota state prison.
Donald Trump's response
Trump was asked about the possibility of a Chauvin pardon during a White House appearance in March 2025. His response was unequivocal: “No, I haven’t even heard about it.” Since then, neither he nor his campaign has offered any further statements suggesting a change in that position.
State and federal sentences: What would a pardon actually do
Even if Trump were to pardon Chauvin’s federal conviction, it wouldn’t mean immediate freedom for the former officer. Chauvin is currently serving a 22.5-year sentence for second-degree unintentional murder under Minnesota state law, alongside a concurrent 21-year federal sentence for violating Floyd’s civil rights. As Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison clarified, “A federal pardon would only transfer Chauvin back to Minnesota to serve his state sentence.”
Officials brace for public reaction
In light of the growing speculation, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis city officials have acknowledged the potential for unrest. Walz, who was Vice President Kamala Harris’ running mate in 2024, told reporters that although there has been no official signal from Trump’s team, they are preparing for “any eventuality.” Minneapolis Community Safety Commissioner Toddrick Barnette also stated that emergency plans have been updated since 2020 to address such scenarios.
Chauvin's background and conviction
Derek Chauvin was a Minneapolis police officer from 2001 until his termination in 2020. On May 25 of that year, he knelt on George Floyd’s neck during an arrest over a counterfeit $20 bill. Floyd’s death, captured on video, triggered global protests under the Black Lives Matter banner. Chauvin was convicted on charges of second-degree murder, third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter in 2021. His appeals to the Minnesota Supreme Court and the U.S. Supreme Court were denied.
A deeper political undercurrent
The debate over Chauvin's potential pardon is emblematic of a broader cultural and political divide in America. For some on the far right, the Chauvin case symbolises what they view as the unjust treatment of police officers. For others, particularly in communities of colour, the possibility of a pardon is seen as a dangerous rollback of hard-won accountability.
While the Trump camp has denied any current effort to pardon Chauvin, the president’s unpredictable style and political leanings leave room for doubt in the minds of many observers.
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