Social media users have reacted to the surprising news that Donald Trump provided rapper Lil Wayne a presidential pardon on the eve of his exit from The White House.
According to BBC News, the 38-year-old five-time Grammy-award-winning singer, songwriter, and hip-hop artist was one of 140 individuals who were granted pardons or had their sentences commuted by the outgoing President on Tuesday, January 19.
Watch Donald Trump's farewell address to the nation in the video below:
Trump broke the news in an official statement posted on The White House's website. In it, a spokesperson for the POTUS wrote:
"President Trump granted a full pardon to Dwayne Michael Carter Jr., also known as 'Lil Wayne.' Mr. Carter pled guilty to possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon, owing to a conviction over 10 years ago.
"Brett Berish of Sovereign Brands, who supports a pardon for Mr. Carter, describes him as: 'trustworthy, kind-hearted and generous.' Mr. Carter has exhibited this generosity through [a] commitment to a variety of charities, including donations to research hospitals and a host of foodbanks.
"Deion Sanders, who also wrote in support of this pardon, calls Mr. Wayne 'a provider for his family, a friend to many, a man of faith, a natural giver to the less fortunate, a waymaker, [and] a game-changer.'"
In the aftermath of the mass-pardoning announcement, a number of social media users took to Twitter to express their incredulity over Trump's priorities on his last day of office.
For instance, one Twitter user wrote: "Donald Trump bribed Lil Wayne for an endorsement with a pardon that dropped gun charges. This would be such huge news in the normal timeline."
A second person wrote: "Donald Trump just pardoned Lil Wayne at the recommendation of Deion Sanders and I can’t believe I just typed that sentence."
A third tweeted: "The president has pardoned Lil Wayne and Kodak Black citing support by legendary CFB players Deion Sanders and Lamar Jackson. Yes, this is real."
Meanwhile, someone else wrote: "Yes, Trump pardoned Kwame Kilpatrick, Kodak Black, and Lil Wayne. No, proximity or engagement with Black people doesn’t make him 'not racist.'"
Another person made light of the fact that the so-called "Tiger King" Joe Exotic had missed out on a pardon despite campaigning from prison for one, joking: "Today, may you have the confidence of Joe Exotic awaiting a pardon, and the fortune of Lil Wayne actually getting one instead."
A number of other Twitter users employed memes and image macros to convey their feelings on the matter:
Commenting on the pardon in an interview with Rolling Stone, Lil Wayne's attorney Bradford Cohen stated: "President Trump and his administration have been tireless advocates on behalf of the African-American community.
"These pardons are a perfect example of this administration following up on its reforms and commitments."