Trump grants clemency to rappers Lil Wayne and Kodak Black in the final flurry of presidential power
The White House announced early Wednesday that President Donald Trump has granted a pardon to rapper Lil
Wayne and a commutation to rapper Kodak Black, two of the raft of pardons and commutations on his final day
in office.
“President Trump granted a full pardon to Dwayne Michael Carter Jr., also known as ‘Lil Wayne,'”
the statement from White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany read. “Mr. Carter pled guilty to possession of
a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon, owing to a conviction over 10 years ago. Brett Berish of
Sovereign Brands, who supports a pardon for Mr. Carter, describes him as ‘trustworthy, kind-hearted and
generous.'”
“Mr. Carter has exhibited this generosity through commitment to a variety of charities, including donations to
research hospitals and a host of foodbanks. Deion Sanders, who also wrote in support of this pardon, calls Mr.
Wayne ‘a provider for his family, a friend to many, a man of faith, a natural giver to the less fortunate, a
waymaker, [and] a game-changer.'”
The decisions mark another example of Trump rewarding someone he perceives as loyal. Trump, who has been
largely lambasted by Hollywood during his tenure in office, has relished praise from celebrities, and is rewarding
the rapper, also known as Dwayne Carter, who expressed support for his campaign in the final days of the 2020
campaign.
Lil Wayne, a multi-platinum artist and record label founder who has won five Grammys, pleaded guilty to illegal
gun possession on December 11, 2020, after a December 2019 arrest, and was facing up to 10 years in federal
prison as he awaited his sentencing later this month.
The guilty plea came weeks after he met with Trump in Miami, Florida, to discuss the President’s “platinum plan”
aimed at courting Black voters days before the election.
