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Donald Trump will 'take a look' at pardoning Tiger King's Joe Exotic
While much of the world has spent their time in coronavirus isolation watching Netflix's Tiger King, you'd expect the President of the United States, Donald Trump to have more important things on his mind.
However, Trump has revealed that he will "take a look" into pardoning Tiger King's Joe Exotic while giving a coronavirus press briefing at the White House on Wednesday.
The New York Post's Steven Nelson asked Trump if he'd consider pardoning Joe Exotic, real name Joseph Maldonado Passage, given recent comments made by his son Donald Trump Jr during an interview with SiriusXM radio.
In the interview, Trump Jr said he thought that the 22-year sentencing seemed "aggressive".
He said on air, "Now, I don't even know exactly what he was charged with... I watched the show, but it was like, I don't know exactly what he was guilty of or wasn't."
Trump Jr went on to say, "It doesn't seem like he was totally innocent of anything. But when they're saying, 'We're putting this guy away for 30 years,' I'm saying that seems sort of aggressive."
The New York Post reporter asked Trump if he'd consider helping the former zoo owner.
“[Joe Exotic] is asking you for a pardon, saying he was unfairly convicted,” he explained.
“Your son yesterday jokingly said that he was going to advocate for it... Do you have any thoughts on pardoning Joe Exotic?"
Trump admitted he hadn't seen the docuseries and asked Nelson, "Are you recommending a pardon? As a reporter you’re not allowed to do that."
He concluded by saying he'll "take a look" at the situation, before moving back to the coronavirus.
When asked if he would pardon Joe Exotic, the incarcerated star of the Netflix documentary series “Tiger King,” Pres. Trump says he “knows nothing about” it, but will “take a look.” https://t.co/neRtDMrRZT pic.twitter.com/SyrDJ7R8DK
— CBS News (@CBSNews) April 8, 2020
Understandably, the off-topic question drew criticism on social media, with many calling it out for being a waste of time when the situation in New York City, where the reporter’s publication is based, is so dire.
Over SIX THOUSAND people have officially died in New York state because of this pandemic. We know that countless more are not being conuted.
Meanwhile, Murdoch's New York Post asks the president about a fucking Netfilx show during a pandemic briefing.— John Whitehouse (@existentialfish) April 8, 2020
The media is so addicted to sensationalism that a journalist at the Coronavirus Press Conference literally asked Trump whether he will listen to Donald Trump Jr.’s suggestion to pardon Tiger King Joe Exotic for hiring a hit man. We have a broken government and a broken media.
— Eugene Gu, MD (@eugenegu) April 8, 2020
These are the questions taking up time in the pandemic briefing as people die https://t.co/OdGxC2Rv7C
— Matt Mitovich (@MattMitovich) April 8, 2020
Let’s hope the President sticks to working on the coronavirus pandemic and doesn’t focus any energy into Joe Exotic.
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