Elon Musk has weighed in on conservative commentator Ben Shapiro’s push for former President Donald Trump to pardon Derek Chauvin, the ex-Minneapolis police officer convicted in George Floyd’s 2020 murder.
Musk responded to Shapiro’s petition with a brief but provocative remark: “Something to think about.”
Shapiro, founder of The Daily Wire, claims Chauvin was "unjustly convicted" and that political pressure influenced the guilty verdict. Chauvin is currently serving a 22.5-year state sentence for second-degree unintentional murder, alongside a concurrent 21-year federal sentence for violating Floyd’s civil rights.
In an open letter to Trump, Shapiro argued that Chauvin’s trial was tainted by external pressures, claiming, “The jury had massive overt pressure to convict.” He also repeated the widely contested claim that Floyd’s death was due to pre-existing health conditions and fentanyl use rather than Chauvin’s knee restraint.
Musk’s endorsement amplified the call to his 219 million followers on X (formerly Twitter), ensuring the petition reached a massive audience.
Something to think about https://t.co/KbZQEMpFXP
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 4, 2025
A Trump pardon would only apply to Chauvin’s federal conviction. His state sentence would remain unless reduced by Minnesota authorities. Legal experts say a pardon could be seen as racially charged, given Floyd’s high-profile killing and the global protests it sparked.
Photo: Reuters
Trump has yet to comment on the petition, but his history of controversial pardons—including cases involving law enforcement—has fueled speculation about whether he will intervene.
COMMENTS
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ