In a statement from former President Donald Trump, who claimed he was unaware of a petition launched by conservative commentator Ben Shapiro calling for the pardon of Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer convicted in the 2020 killing of George Floyd. The update has reignited discussions about one of the most polarizing cases in recent American history, fueling debates over justice, race, and the role of presidential pardons.
The post, accompanied by images of Trump and Chauvin, underscores Trump’s current stance as he navigates his second term in office. It reads, “President Trump says he hasn’t heard of Ben Shapiro’s petition for him to pardon Derek Chauvin.” This statement comes amidst a broader conservative push, led by figures like Shapiro, to revisit Chauvin’s conviction, which many on the right argue was unjust due to external pressures and medical evidence surrounding Floyd’s death.
The Background of the Chauvin Case
Derek Chauvin’s conviction stems from the tragic events of May 25, 2020, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. On that day, Chauvin, a 19-year veteran of the Minneapolis Police Department, knelt on George Floyd’s neck for over nine minutes while Floyd, a 46-year-old Black man, was handcuffed and lying face-down on the street. The incident, captured on bystander video, showed Floyd repeatedly pleading, “I can’t breathe,” before losing consciousness and later being pronounced dead at a hospital.
The video sparked nationwide protests under the banner of the Black Lives Matter movement, igniting a global reckoning on police brutality, systemic racism, and racial injustice. Chauvin was charged with second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter. In April 2021, a Minnesota jury found him guilty on all counts, and he was sentenced to 22.5 years in prison. Additionally, Chauvin pleaded guilty in 2021 to federal civil rights violations, receiving a concurrent 21-year sentence, which he is serving in federal prison.
Three other officers involved—J. Alexander Kueng, Thomas Lane, and Tou Thao—were also convicted of federal civil rights violations and state charges related to their roles in restraining Floyd, receiving sentences ranging from 2.5 to 3.5 years.
The Petition and Shapiro’s Argument
Ben Shapiro, a prominent conservative media personality and co-founder of The Daily Wire, has emerged as a leading voice in the campaign to pardon Chauvin. On March 6, 2025, Shapiro launched an online petition at PardonDerek.com, arguing that Chauvin was “unjustly convicted” and that his case represents a “terrible wrong” perpetuated by what Shapiro calls the “Woke movement” in American politics. Shapiro’s petition asserts that Floyd’s death was not caused by Chauvin’s actions but by a combination of Floyd’s pre-existing health conditions, including arteriosclerotic and hypertensive heart disease, and the presence of fentanyl and methamphetamine in his system at the time of his death.
Shapiro’s claims are rooted in the autopsy report conducted by Hennepin County Chief Medical Examiner Andrew Baker, which identified “cardiopulmonary arrest complicating law enforcement subdual, restraint, and neck compression” as the cause of death, while noting that fentanyl intoxication and drug use “may have increased the likelihood of death.” However, independent experts and prosecutors have consistently maintained that Chauvin’s restraint—particularly the prolonged pressure on Floyd’s neck—was the primary cause of the homicide, despite Floyd’s underlying conditions.
Shapiro’s petition has garnered mixed reactions. While it has received support from some conservative figures, such as Jack Posobiec and Laura Loomer, it has faced fierce opposition from Floyd’s family and civil rights advocates. Philonise Floyd, George’s brother, told CNN that a pardon for Chauvin would “hurt us” and “set America back 400 years,” describing it as a “disgusting” attempt to undermine justice for Black Americans.
Trump’s Response and Political Implications
Trump’s assertion that he has not heard of Shapiro’s petition, as reported by AF Post, suggests he has not yet engaged with the issue directly. However, his history of controversial pardons—such as those granted to accused war criminals in 2020, over a thousand Capitol rioters since returning to office in January 2025, and the founder of the Silk Road dark web marketplace—has fueled speculation about whether he might eventually consider Chauvin’s case.
The timing of Shapiro’s petition coincides with Trump’s second term, during which he has prioritized rolling back diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives and pushing back against what some conservatives view as gains in racial justice following Floyd’s death. A pardon for Chauvin could be politically divisive, potentially alienating Black and Hispanic communities that Trump has sought to court, while energizing his base among conservative and far-right supporters.
Critics, including Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, who prosecuted Chauvin in the state case, have condemned the petition as “blatant disrespect for the law.” Ellison emphasized that even if Trump were to issue a federal pardon, Chauvin’s 22.5-year state sentence would remain intact, limiting the practical impact of such a move.
The Broader Debate
The renewed debate over Chauvin’s conviction, as highlighted by the trending topic on X, reflects deep societal divisions over race, policing, and the justice system. Supporters of the pardon, including Shapiro, argue that Chauvin did not receive a fair trial due to “massive overt pressure on the jury” and media scrutiny following Floyd’s death. They point to medical evidence and the testimony of some experts to suggest Floyd’s death was not solely attributable to Chauvin’s actions.
Conversely, opponents, including Floyd’s family and civil rights advocates, argue that the video evidence, autopsy findings, and trial testimony clearly demonstrate Chauvin’s culpability. The Hennepin County autopsy, along with a second autopsy commissioned by Floyd’s family, concluded that Floyd died from asphyxia due to neck and back compression, reinforcing the prosecution’s case that Chauvin’s restraint was the decisive factor.
The controversy has also drawn attention from other high-profile figures, such as Elon Musk, who reposted Shapiro’s segment on X with the comment, “Something to think about,” signaling potential influence within Trump’s inner circle. However, legal experts note that presidential pardons are inherently political, often serving as symbolic gestures rather than purely legal remedies.
Conclusion
As of March 8, 2025, Trump’s denial of knowledge about Shapiro’s petition leaves the future of Chauvin’s potential pardon uncertain. The issue has reignited a national conversation about justice, race, and the limits of executive power, with significant implications for Trump’s administration and America’s ongoing reckoning with its history of racial inequality. While the debate continues to unfold on social media and in political circles, the memory of George Floyd’s death and the protests it inspired remain a poignant reminder of the stakes involved in this deeply divisive case.
