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In pardoning reality TV stars Todd and Julie Chrisley, Trump taps into a sense of persecution felt by his conservative Christian base

  • Written by Diane Winston, Professor and Knight Center Chair in Media & Religion, USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism
imageSavannah Chrisley, left, spearheaded a campaign to pardon her mother, Julie, and father, Todd, right.Noel Vasquez/Getty Images

President Donald Trump has never met Todd Chrisley, the reality TV star that he pardoned on May 27, 2025, along with Chrisley’s wife, Julie.

But the pair have much in common.

Both are admired by their fans for their...

Read more: In pardoning reality TV stars Todd and Julie Chrisley, Trump taps into a sense of persecution felt...

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