Ben Shapiro and other conservative leaders are pushing hard for President Trump to pardon Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer convicted in George Floyd’s death. They argue the evidence doesn’t prove Chauvin caused Floyd’s death, pointing to Floyd’s fentanyl use and heart problems. A new petition at PardonDerek.com has gained traction, claiming the trial was unfair due to media pressure and political bias.
Shapiro says the jury was intimidated by threats and public figures like President Biden, who called for a guilty verdict before the trial ended. He highlights that Floyd was already struggling to breathe before being restrained and that Chauvin’s knee wasn’t on Floyd’s neck the whole time. The autopsy showed no damage to Floyd’s trachea, which Shapiro says proves Chauvin didn’t murder him.
The campaign claims Chauvin is a victim of “woke” politics that fueled riots and division in 2020. Shapiro calls the conviction a sham that led to $2 billion in property damage and ruined race relations. Even Elon Musk has shared posts questioning the trial, though he hasn’t fully endorsed the pardon.
Chauvin is serving 22.5 years in prison after surviving a stabbing in 2023. A Trump pardon would clear his federal charges but not the state ones. Supporters say freeing Chauvin would correct a grave injustice and show the system isn’t controlled by left-wing agendas. Critics say it would undermine police accountability, but Shapiro insists it’s about fairness, not politics.
The push reflects broader conservative frustration with how Floyd’s death was handled. They argue the media ignored facts to push a narrative that vilified police and sparked chaos. For many, pardoning Chauvin is a step toward healing the divisions caused by what they see as a rushed, unfair trial.
The petition has divided Americans, with some calling it a needed reckoning and others a slap in the face to Floyd’s memory. As tensions over policing and race continue, the debate over Chauvin’s fate remains a flashpoint in the culture wars.
Shapiro and his allies urge Trump to act quickly, framing the pardon as a moral duty. They believe it would send a message that the justice system shouldn’t bow to mob rule. Whether Trump will listen—and how the public will react—remains to be seen.
