Fact Check: Did Andrew Tate ask Donald Trump for a full pardon?
WASHINGTON, DC: A viral X post claimed that Andrew Tate has asked President Donald Trump for a full pardon while being held in Florida as he fights extradition to the United Kingdom. The claim surfaced months after Tate and his brother, Tristan Tate, left Romania and became embroiled in legal proceedings in the US stemming from British extradition warrants.
Claim: Andrew Tate asked Trump for a full pardon
JUST IN: Andrew Tate asks Donald Trump for a full pardon.
— Spencer Hakimian (@SpencerHakimian) July 21, 2026
The rumor originated from an X post by user Spenser Hakimian, who wrote, "JUST IN: Andrew Tate asks Donald Trump for a full pardon."
The post quickly gained traction, amassing more than 2.6 million views at the time of writing and prompting widespread discussion about whether Trump could grant such a request. Many users questioned the claim's legal basis.
One commenter wrote, "The President can’t pardon crimes in other countries," pointing out that a US president's pardon power does not extend to foreign criminal cases. Others echoed the same concern, debating whether a presidential pardon could affect Tate's extradition proceedings.
The claim also drew attention because Trump has recently exercised his clemency powers. In early July 2026, he granted pardons to several individuals and companies convicted under the federal Clean Air Act for disabling emissions-control systems in diesel trucks.
Trump described those prosecutions as an example of the previous administration's "weaponization and stupidity." Around the same time, reports indicated that his administration quietly denied nearly 6,000 other clemency applications, despite speculation that a broader round of pardons was imminent.
Claim: Unverified, no leading media outlet reported on this
The claim is unverified. No credible news organization or official statement from Andrew Tate, his legal team, or the Trump administration confirms that Tate has formally requested a presidential pardon from Donald Trump. The viral posts cite no evidence, documents, or public remarks to support the claim.
The rumor surfaced shortly after Andrew and Tristan Tate were arrested in Miami on a UK extradition warrant involving serious allegations, including rape and human trafficking. The timing of the arrests fueled online speculation, with several X accounts posting "JUST IN" claims that Tate had sought Trump's intervention.
However, none of the posts provided verifiable evidence, and no subsequent reporting has substantiated the allegation.
The claim is also misleading because a US presidential pardon has limited legal scope. Under the US Constitution, the president may grant pardons only for federal US offenses.
A presidential pardon cannot erase foreign criminal charges, halt UK extradition proceedings, or shield someone from prosecution by another country.
Since the Tate brothers are facing extradition requests from the United Kingdom, a presidential pardon would not resolve those proceedings even if one were requested or granted.