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The Definitive Answer: 5 Shocking Facts About Donald Trump's May 2025 Pardon Of NBA YoungBoy

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The question of whether Donald Trump pardoned NBA YoungBoy has a definitive, and surprisingly recent, answer. As of late December 2025, the Baton Rouge rapper, whose real name is Kentrell DeSean Gaulden, did indeed receive a presidential pardon from the 47th President, Donald J. Trump, a decision that has sent ripples through both the hip-hop world and political circles. This act of executive clemency, confirmed on May 29, 2025, completely wiped out the remainder of his federal gun-related sentence, allowing the influential artist to walk free just weeks before his scheduled release date. The pardon closed the book on a long and complex legal saga that spanned multiple states, including Louisiana and Utah, and involved federal weapons charges stemming from a 2020 arrest. The timing of the pardon—issued during President Trump's second term—reignited public debate over the use of presidential clemency for high-profile figures, especially those who had recently been sentenced to federal prison.

Kentrell DeSean Gaulden: A Quick Biography and Profile

Kentrell DeSean Gaulden, known globally as NBA YoungBoy or YoungBoy Never Broke Again, is one of the most streamed and polarizing figures in modern rap music. His career is defined by prolific output, raw emotional lyrics, and a perpetual entanglement with the legal system.
  • Full Name: Kentrell DeSean Gaulden
  • Stage Names: YoungBoy Never Broke Again (YB NBA), NBA YoungBoy, Lil Top
  • Date of Birth: October 20, 1999
  • Age (as of December 2025): 26
  • Birthplace: Baton Rouge, Louisiana
  • Career Highlights: Known for his unique blend of melodic trap and aggressive storytelling; he has consistently topped music charts, frequently competing with established artists for the most YouTube views and streaming numbers.
  • Legal History: Gaulden's legal issues began in his early teens and have been a constant factor in his life, including previous arrests for aggravated assault and kidnapping, culminating in the federal weapons charges that were the subject of the 2025 pardon.

The Federal Gun Charges and 2024 Sentencing

The legal troubles that led directly to the presidential clemency began in September 2020. NBA YoungBoy was arrested in his hometown of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on multiple charges related to drug possession and firearm possession. This arrest was the catalyst for a much larger federal investigation.

The core of the issue revolved around two separate federal weapons charges:

  1. The Louisiana Charge: Stemming from the 2020 Baton Rouge arrest, where he was found to be in possession of a firearm as a convicted felon, a serious federal offense.
  2. The Utah Charge: An unrelated federal weapons charge that emerged while he was on supervised release, further complicating his legal standing.

The rapper's legal team, facing two separate federal prosecutions, worked to consolidate the cases. In a strategic move, Gaulden agreed to a plea deal, which involved moving the Louisiana case to the jurisdiction of a federal judge in Utah. This maneuver was intended to streamline his legal process.

In late 2024, the federal court in Utah handed down a definitive sentence. Kentrell Gaulden was sentenced to 23 months in federal prison for the consolidated gun-related charges. The sentence, while significant, was seen by some as a mitigated outcome given the severity of the charges and his prior criminal history. He was credited with time served dating back to his initial detention in May 2024.

The Shocking May 2025 Presidential Pardon

The most unexpected turn in the saga came in the spring of 2025. While serving his 23-month sentence and preparing for a scheduled release later in the year, news broke that his name was on a list of individuals granted executive clemency by President Donald J. Trump.

Here are the key facts surrounding the May 29, 2025 pardon:

  1. The Date and Confirmation: The pardon was officially announced on May 29, 2025, and confirmed by the White House and the Department of Justice, making the clemency official. This act of forgiveness granted NBA YoungBoy a full presidential pardon, eliminating the federal conviction and restoring his civil rights.
  2. The Timing: The clemency was granted just weeks before his anticipated release date, effectively cutting short the tail end of his supervised confinement. The timing was seen as a major intervention, immediately ending his federal supervision and all associated restrictions.
  3. Political Context: The pardon was part of a larger list of clemency grants issued by the 47th President during his second administration. President Trump has a history of granting clemency to high-profile figures, including other rappers like Lil Wayne and Kodak Black, as well as reality TV stars Todd and Julie Chrisley. The inclusion of NBA YoungBoy on the list was a clear continuation of this trend, often sparking significant media and political discussion.
  4. The Result: The pardon concluded the rapper's years-long battle with the federal government over the weapons charges. It freed him from the final months of his sentence and lifted the cloud of a federal felony conviction, allowing him to focus entirely on his music career.

The Impact of the Clemency on NBA YoungBoy's Career

The presidential pardon of Kentrell Gaulden is not merely a legal footnote; it is a monumental event with massive implications for his career and legacy.

The immediate impact was the removal of the legal shackles that had constantly threatened to derail his artistic momentum. Before the pardon, the combination of his federal sentence and the ongoing legal battles forced him to record music while under house arrest or in a confined setting. The clemency granted him full freedom of movement and the ability to tour, collaborate, and produce without the constant oversight of federal probation or the threat of re-incarceration for minor violations. The ability to travel and perform live is a critical component of a major artist’s revenue and reach.

Furthermore, the pardon serves as a dramatic narrative point in his life story. An artist whose music is deeply rooted in his struggles and street life now has a presidential intervention as part of his biography. This unique twist—being pardoned by a U.S. President—adds a layer of complexity and intrigue to the "YoungBoy Never Broke Again" persona, a figure who has always stood at the intersection of fame, controversy, and the criminal justice system.

The pardon of NBA YoungBoy, alongside other notable clemency recipients like Rod Blagojevich and Lauren Handy, highlights the discretionary power of the presidency and its occasional intersection with popular culture. For the rapper, the May 2025 decision marks a definitive new chapter, one where his focus can shift from the courtroom in Utah and Louisiana back to the studio and the stage.

did trump pardon nba youngboy
did trump pardon nba youngboy

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