Todd and Julie Chrisley, America’s favorite bougie tax evaders, have officially been pardoned by none other than former President Donald Trump. Yes, you read that right. On Tuesday, May 27, the former commander-in-chief made the surprise call to Chrisley daughter-slash-publicist-in-chief Savannah to let her know mommy and daddy are coming home. And naturally, social media went up in flames.
“Crime Pays If You Have Followers”
Let’s rewind. The “Chrisley Knows Best” duo were convicted in 2022 of tax evasion and fraud, a storyline far juicier than anything their reality show ever produced. Todd was hit with a 12-year sentence, while Julie got seven. Both were promptly shuffled off to federal prison in 2023. Since then, it’s been a whole saga of appeals, failed attempts at getting off the hook, and Savannah Chrisley doing the media rounds harder than Kris Jenner on a rebrand.
“Appeal Denied, But Make It Fashion”
Julie’s sentence was briefly vacated in 2024 after an appeal, but it ended up being a big legal “psych!” when she was resentenced to the same seven-year term. She’s been serving time at FMC Lexington in Kentucky, while Todd has been holed up in Florida’s Federal Prison Camp Pensacola, presumably reorganizing other inmates’ closets and over-enunciating words for survival.
“White House or White Lies?”
So how did we get here? Apparently, a little White House rendezvous earlier this year greased the wheels.
In February 2025, Savannah met with Trump at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave, because nothing says presidential diplomacy like advocating for reality TV felons. Fast-forward to May 27, and Trump picked up the phone to personally inform Savannah that her parents would be freed as soon as tomorrow.
The video of the call, because of course it was filmed, was posted to X/Twitter. Naturally, her brother Grayson chimed in to say he caught Trump’s recent commencement speech at the University of Alabama. A family of political scholars, truly.
“The Influencer Redemption Tour Has Begun”
Savannah wasted zero time going live on Instagram like she was dropping a surprise album. Sporting a stark white “Make America Great Again” cap because subtlety is dead, she gushed about her parents’ freedom. “I am eternally grateful,” she said. “It still doesn’t feel real, I’m freaking out,” she added, in between phrases like “My parents get to start their lives over,” as though this were a Hallmark movie and not a federal tax crime redemption arc.
Social Media Reacts To Chrisleys Pardon
“You’re Pardoned. Now Smile for Lifetime”
This all happens to come a week after Lifetime announced a new Chrisley series. Yes, apparently doing time is the new PR stunt. Martha Stewart crawled so the Chrisleys could strut. The show is set to premiere later this year, because if we’re going to turn national embarrassment into binge-worthy content, at least someone’s getting a check.
“From Prison Walls to Paywalls”
Savannah’s been loudly campaigning about the “mistreatment” her parents endured in prison, though for many, the sheer fact that a pair of white-collar reality stars got presidential clemency at all speaks volumes.
“The Comeback No One Asked For”
So what’s next? Todd’s likely headed back to his perfectly manicured kingdom of throw pillows and passive-aggressive monologues. Julie may get a book deal, and Savannah will ride this wave straight into a production credit.
Love them, hate them, or just confused why this is even real, the Chrisleys are back. And just like before, they know best… at least when it comes to working the system.
Thoughts? Tears? Rage? Let us know in the comments, but remember, no tax advice please.
