Joe Exotic is back in the headlines—and he’s furious.
The infamous “Tiger King” star is lashing out on social media after President Donald Trump granted clemency to reality TV couple Todd and Julie Chrisley—but not to him. The Chrisleys, best known for their show Chrisley Knows Best, were convicted of tax and bank fraud in 2022 and sentenced to a combined 19 years in prison. On X this week, Exotic blasted Trump for what he sees as a major betrayal.
“I guess being innocent is not enough in America,” he wrote. “They all admitted to perjury on world television but yet I’m left to die of cancer before I can get any help.”
Exotic, who is five years into a 21-year sentence for allegedly hiring hitmen to kill his rival Carole Baskin, has always claimed he was framed. He once had high hopes that Trump—whom he supported loudly and often—would grant him a pardon. Instead, he’s still behind bars while the Chrisleys walk free.
Adding insult to injury, Exotic’s new husband Jorge Flores Maldonado was reportedly deported to Mexico by ICE earlier this month. In a heartbreaking statement, Flores Maldonado revealed he fears for his life.
“The cartels are very active here—I cannot even go out on the street,” he said. “They think I have money because of my husband.”
Exotic has made multiple emotional pleas for release, once begging Trump to “please restore freedom for Joe Exotic so he can go back to doing good in the world.” But so far, the answer from Trump’s team has been silence.