Former Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio personally thanked Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago for the pardon that freed him from a 22-year prison sentence, while the President expressed sympathy for January 6 defendants.
At a Glance
- Enrique Tarrio and his mother met with Trump at Mar-a-Lago for approximately 10 minutes
- Tarrio thanked Trump for pardoning him, saying it “saved his life” after receiving the harshest sentence among January 6 defendants
- Trump reportedly expressed that January 6 participants were mistreated and apologized for “what Biden did” to them
- The meeting took place shortly after the Justice Department reached a preliminary settlement in the Ashli Babbitt family’s $30 million wrongful death lawsuit
- Tarrio claims Trump told him he is “working on making things right” for other January 6 defendants
The Mar-a-Lago Meeting
Former Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio and his mother, Zuny Duarte, recently met with President Donald Trump at his Mar-a-Lago club. The encounter, initiated when Trump called them over during dinner, lasted approximately 10 minutes. Tarrio, who had been serving a 22-year prison sentence for charges related to the January 6 Capitol riot before receiving a pardon, took the opportunity to express his gratitude to the President. The meeting was facilitated by an unnamed Mar-a-Lago club member who invited Tarrio and his mother to the venue.
According to reports from both The Daily Beast and The New York Times, Trump recognized Tarrio during the interaction, reportedly saying, “Oh, you’re that guy.” The conversation quickly turned to Tarrio’s experiences in the justice system and Trump’s views on the treatment of January 6 defendants.
No official comment has been provided by the White House when questioned about the meeting by journalists. The encounter highlights Trump’s continued relationship with figures associated with the Capitol riot, even as legal proceedings continue for many participants.
Tarrio’s Gratitude and Trump’s Response
During the encounter, Tarrio expressed profound gratitude to Trump for the pardon that ended his lengthy prison sentence. Tarrio had received the harshest punishment of any January 6 defendant, a 22-year sentence that was cut short by Trump’s action. In his own recounting of the meeting, Tarrio emphasized the emotional nature of the conversation and the relief the pardon brought to him and his family after what he described as three years of hardship.
Trump reportedly showed familiarity with Tarrio’s case and recognized the names of his co-defendants. According to Tarrio’s social media posts following the meeting, Trump apologized for “what Biden did to all J6ers” and expressed affection and gratitude toward those involved in the January 6 events. Tarrio also claimed that Trump told him he was “working on making things right” for others still facing legal consequences from that day. Since his release, Tarrio has remained active, launching ventures including a podcast and a cryptocurrency coin.
Enrique Tarrio, ex-leader of the Proud Boys, thanked Trump for a pardon reducing his 22-year sentence related to the January 6 Capitol attack. Their Mar-a-Lago meeting included discussions on challenges faced by rioters, highlighting Trump’s ongoing support for them. pic.twitter.com/xdyp3pWlCo
— Nyra Kraal (@NyraKraal) May 4, 2025
Broader Context of January 6 Legal Developments
The meeting between Trump and Tarrio occurred during a significant moment in the ongoing legal aftermath of the January 6 Capitol riot. Just one day before their encounter, the Justice Department reached a preliminary settlement in a $30 million lawsuit filed by the family of Ashli Babbitt, who was fatally shot during the Capitol breach. Babbitt’s family had sued for wrongful death, though prosecutors had previously declined to charge the officer involved in the shooting.
The conversation between Trump and Tarrio reflects the President’s ongoing efforts to reshape the narrative surrounding January 6. Trump has consistently referred to the day as one of “love” and has described convicted rioters as “political prisoners.”
This framing stands in stark contrast to the Justice Department’s prosecution of hundreds of defendants, including Tarrio, on charges ranging from trespassing to seditious conspiracy. The meeting underscores the continued political divisiveness surrounding the events of January 6 and their aftermath, with vastly different interpretations persisting across the political spectrum.
