Joe Exotic pleads with Trump to free him from 21-year sentence

Joe Exotic urges Donald Trump for a pardon after his husband's deportation, citing injustice and personal hardship.

Joe Exotic, the former zoo owner made famous by Netflix’s Tiger King, has issued a heartfelt appeal to Donald Trump for a presidential pardon.

The 61-year-old, whose real name is Joseph Maldonado-Passage, is currently serving a 21-year federal sentence for his conviction in a murder-for-hire plot and multiple wildlife violations.

In 2019, Exotic was found guilty of paying someone to kill animal rights activist Carole Baskin, along with killing five tigers and selling endangered species without proper documentation. He has consistently denied the murder-for-hire allegations, claiming he was framed by federal informants who have since admitted to perjury during the trial.

Now battling advanced cancer in prison, Exotic says he’s endured seven years of abuse, isolation, and poor medical care. “Joe Exotic did not hurt anyone. Joe Exotic did not pay anyone. Joe Exotic had no plans to hurt anyone,” reads a statement posted on his official account, urging Trump to restore his freedom.

Donald J. Trump please restore freedom for Joe Exotic so he can go back to doing good in the world.

Joe Exotic did not hurt anyone.
Joe Exotic did not pay anyone.
Joe Exotic had no plans to hurt anyone.
Joe Exotic has suffered seven years behind bars being isolated, abused, and…

— Joe Exotic (@joe_exotic) May 27, 2025

Exotic also stressed his past charity work with groups like Operation Smile and Make-A-Wish Foundation, saying he’s more than just a reality TV personality. His supporters argue that entrapment and coerced testimonies led to a disproportionate sentence, and are hoping the former president will intervene.

Whether Trump will act on the plea remains uncertain, but Exotic’s statement is reigniting public debate around his case and clemency campaign.