Trump’s Bold Move: Sports Star Pardon!

President Trump’s bold pardon of ex-Mets star Darryl Strawberry in a Tulsa church has ignited debate over the power of faith, redemption, and the renewed role of conservative values in public life.

Story Snapshot

Darryl Strawberry publicly thanked President Trump for a life-changing pardon during a church sermon.
The event spotlights the intersection of faith, sports, and politics, with Strawberry crediting his transformation to Trump’s support and Christian faith.
Pardons for sports figures are rare, making this act a powerful signal to faith-based and conservative communities.
The story raises questions about the role of presidential pardons and the importance of second chances rooted in American values.

Redemption, Faith, and Presidential Power Collide in Tulsa

On November 23, 2025, Darryl Strawberry, once a symbol of athletic glory and later personal turmoil, stood before the congregation at Sheridan Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

This wasn’t just another church service—it marked Strawberry’s public expression of gratitude for a presidential pardon from Donald Trump, announced weeks earlier. Strawberry’s journey from scandal and incarceration to Christian ministry reached a turning point, as he credited both his faith and Trump’s intervention for his renewed purpose and ongoing sobriety.

The unique setting—a church led by Pastor Jackson Lahmeyer, known for mobilizing faith leaders in the political arena—underscored the event’s deeper significance.

Strawberry’s words resonated with many in attendance: “God just completely set me free when he gave me a pardon from President Donald J. Trump. Other presidents had opportunities, but they didn’t do it.”

For many conservatives, this moment reinforced the importance of leaders who act decisively in support of redemption and the American tradition of second chances.

Darryl Strawberry’s Road from Scandal to Ministry

Darryl Strawberry’s baseball legacy is well known: a star outfielder with the New York Mets, four-time World Series champion, and a fixture in sports headlines throughout the 1980s and 90s.

Yet, his remarkable on-field achievements were overshadowed by years of substance abuse, legal troubles—including a prison term for tax evasion and probation violations—and public struggles with addiction. In the 2010s, a turning point came as Strawberry embraced Christianity, dedicating his life to ministry and addiction recovery.

The connection between Strawberry and Trump developed further after Strawberry’s appearance on “Celebrity Apprentice” in 2010, creating a personal link that would later become pivotal.

The 2025 presidential pardon, covering Strawberry’s drug and tax-related convictions, was not merely a legal gesture. For Strawberry and his supporters, it symbolized a public acknowledgment of redemption and the possibility of renewal through faith and personal accountability.

Faith Communities and Conservative Values Take Center Stage

Pastor Jackson Lahmeyer, founder of Pastors for Trump and a leader in faith-based political advocacy, facilitated the pivotal sermon in Tulsa. The church’s active involvement in conservative causes highlights a broader movement: faith communities asserting their influence in both spiritual renewal and public policy.

The event reaffirmed the role of churches as centers not just for worship but for community leadership, constitutional advocacy, and the defense of traditional values often under attack in recent years.

For many in the congregation and across the conservative spectrum, Strawberry’s testimony is more than a personal story. It serves as a reminder that strong leadership—grounded in faith and a commitment to American ideals—can foster real change.

Trump’s decision to issue the pardon stands in stark contrast to previous administrations, which often sidelined figures who had fallen from grace. This act of clemency is viewed as a restoration of both individual dignity and a return to principles of forgiveness, responsibility, and the pursuit of a greater good.

Rare Presidential Pardons and Their Broader Impact

Presidential pardons for sports figures remain unusual, especially when combined with a public religious setting. Strawberry’s story has drawn national attention, not just for its celebrity element but for what it represents to faith-based and conservative communities.

Legal scholars and sports analysts alike have weighed in, noting the significance of such actions in shaping the narrative of redemption and recovery in American life.

Ex-Mets star Darryl Strawberry talks Trump pardon during church sermon https://t.co/cH1X0aBjUO #FoxNews ✌🏼

— Nate Stokes (@natestokes777) November 24, 2025

Critics may question the motivations behind high-profile pardons, but the facts remain: Strawberry’s transformation is real, his advocacy for sobriety and faith is ongoing, and Trump’s action has resonated with those who value second chances rooted in the American tradition.

The event in Tulsa stands as a powerful example of how faith, leadership, and constitutional values can converge to inspire hope and renewal, even in the face of past adversity.