Ben Shapiro and Elon Musk are pushing President Trump to pardon Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer convicted in George Floyd’s 2020 murder. Their calls have sparked outrage from civil rights leaders and Floyd’s family, who say it would undermine justice and reopen old wounds. While Trump can pardon Chauvin’s federal charges, Minnesota’s state convictions would keep him behind bars.
Shapiro claims Chauvin’s trial was unfair, blaming media pressure and protests for the guilty verdict. He argues the pardon would fix a “woke” injustice and heal national divisions. Elon Musk amplified this idea, suggesting it’s worth considering. But critics say this ignores the facts: bodycam footage showed Chauvin kneeling on Floyd’s neck for nine minutes as he begged for air.
Floyd’s brother called the pardon push “disgusting,” saying it forces the family to relive trauma. Minnesota’s attorney general warned Trump has no power over state convictions, calling the idea “blatant disrespect” for the law. Even if Chauvin’s federal sentence is wiped, he’d stay in prison for murder.
Conservatives argue the justice system caved to mob rule during Chauvin’s trial. They point to riots and property damage after Floyd’s death as proof the jury felt pressured. Shapiro claims Chauvin followed police training, but bodycam videos showed him ignoring Floyd’s pleas while bystanders filmed.
Chauvin’s federal plea deal covered both Floyd’s death and a 2017 assault on a Black teen. Pardoning him would only erase part of his record, leaving state murder charges intact. Legal experts say it’s a hollow gesture that won’t free Chauvin but sends a dangerous message about police accountability.
Some conservatives worry this distracts from Trump’s agenda. Why risk angering voters over a man who’ll stay jailed regardless? Others say standing with police matters more, even if it divides the country again. The debate shows how Floyd’s death remains a flashpoint in America’s culture wars.
Chauvin survived a prison stabbing in 2023 and remains in federal custody. His release date is 2037 unless Minnesota’s governor commutes his state sentence—an unlikely move for a Democrat. Pardoning him federally would be symbolic, but symbols matter in politics.
This isn’t about law and order—it’s about fighting leftist narratives. Shapiro and Musk want Trump to defy “woke” critics and show loyalty to law enforcement. But most Americans saw Floyd’s death as a clear abuse of power. Conservatives must ask: does defending Chauvin help or hurt the cause of justice?
