Why President Trump Really Likes Pardoning Athletes

On November 6, Donald Trump granted a full presidential pardon to Darryl Strawberry, the former MLB star convicted of tax evasion in 1995. It was not an isolated gesture.

Over the years, Trump has used clemency to court or reward athletes, from NFL enforcers and boxing champions to Olympic swimmers and long-retired legends. But many of those he pardons share two traits: celebrity appeal and symbolic value in the culture wars.

The Strawberry pardon, which the player called a “personal act of friendship,” reveals more than nostalgia for a fallen sports hero. Trump’s mercy toward athletes says less about forgiveness than about brand management.

The Sports and Crime Briefing revisits five Trump pardons and why mixing sport and politics can be a good campaign strategy.