President Donald Trump has long called for an escalation of the U.S. drug war against Mexican cartels and hopes to impose tougher penalties on dealers selling fentanyl and other street drugs in U.S. communities. "I'm ready, if you pay drugs, I'll be sentenced to death if you trade drugs," Trump said at a meeting with the governor in February.

But despite his hard speech, Trump has sparked controversy by pardoning a growing number of convicted drug dealers, including a move to grant leniency to 74-year-old Larry Hoover, who served in federal prison for crimes related to his role.

Trump has awarded at least eight convicted on federal drug charges in the early months of his second term. Some, including Hoover, have extensive criminal records involving violence and gun charges.

“There is a lot of mixed information and mixed signals that create confusion and uncertainty,” said Jeffrey Singer, a drug policy analyst at the Cato Institute, a liberal think tank. “On the one hand, you threaten to impose a more severe punishment on the people who deal with drugs, and on the other hand, you are releasing drug dealers from prison.”

The Cases of Larry Hoover and the Gangster Disciples

Ron Safer, a former U.S. attorney in Chicago who helped prosecute members of the gangsters in the 1990s, said he was shocked and frustrated by Trump's decision to commute to Hoover.

He noted that according to the U.S. Department of Justice, Hoover's gang is one of the largest and most violent drug groups in the U.S. Department of Justice said in 35 states. Hoover himself was convicted of state and federal charges, including murder and use of a firearm while trafficking in drugs.

"Larry Hoover is probably the person in charge of the most harmful, effective drug operations in the United States," Safer said. "They sold over $100 million in drugs in the city of Chicago alone. They were responsible for countless murders. They supported their drug territory with cruel violence."

Hoover was first jailed in 1973 for murder. In the 1990s, he was convicted of federal charges related to the role of mentoring gangster disciples.

Hoover is now expected to be transferred from the Federal Super Max Prison to a state correctional facility in Illinois because he will now remain in prison for state-level murder. Hoover had previously sought leniency from Illinois officials, but his latest bid was overwhelmingly rejected by the state review board in December 2022.

But a White House spokesman commented in the background because he was not authorized to speak publicly, telling the NPR that the administration wants Illinois officials to serve by freeing Hoover.

"There are many advocates saying that the time (Hoover) in prison is enough," the spokesperson said.

In demanding severe punishment, leniency against senior drug traffickers

Trump's leniency against Hoover and other drug offenders follows the pattern of the beginning of his first term in the White House. In a difficult move pledging against drug dealers, Trump has convicted at least 13 people between 2017 and 2021 for federal drug crimes, including large-scale trafficking rings related to or convicted of violence.

In 2020, Trump's administration also released a senior Mexican military official arrested in Los Angeles by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency, who helped drug cartels' traffic drugs enter the U.S. with pressure from the Mexican government, and Trump's Justice Department officials abandoned the prosecution of El Salvador El Salvador Seinfags Zipeda.

In the first month of his second term, Trump also pardoned Ross Ulbricht, a former tech entrepreneur who worked in federal prison for the creation of the Silk Road, a dark internet site that became the main channel for drug traffickers.

"Ulbricht also expressed his willingness to use violence to protect the anonymity of its criminal businesses and users, but six murders related to operating the site, although there is no evidence that these murders were actually underway," the federal prosecutor said in a statement.

A White House spokesman said in his comments about the background that there is no contradiction between Trump's rhetoric from his difficult traders and his decision to release some of those involved in drug trafficking.

"Punishment is not always suitable for crime," the spokesperson said. "The president is willing to see if these people are worthy of redemption."

Some critics of the U.S. drug war have praised Trump for the use of presidential power to release drug offenders.

"President Trump's potential decision to allow leniency to those with drug convictions provides a vital lifeline for affected people and confirms what the community has long known: convictions of drugs are invalid and harmful," Kassandra Frederique, head of the Drug Policy Coalition, said in a statement to the NPR.

But Frederique criticized Trump for his broader stance on drug policy. “These leniency is in stark contrast to the wider government’s criminal rhetoric and its ongoing efforts to demolish life-saving health services,” Frederick said.

Some people regard Trump's pardon as a "deal"

In his final days of office, President Joe Biden pardoned thousands of criminals, many of whom were imprisoned on federal drug charges. Biden said the move reflects his uneasiness about the drug war.

"This action is an important step towards correcting historical errors, correcting sentencing differences, and, after spending too much time, provides individuals with the opportunity to return to their families and communities."

Drug policy experts interviewed by NPR say it is difficult to find a coherent philosophy behind Trump’s use of leniency. According to the singer at the Cato Academy, Trump’s pardon often has “deals” and often reflects the influence of powerful individuals.

"He actually promised before the Liberal Party's convention that if he was elected, he would pardon Ross Ulbricht. It was his promise that he wanted to get support from liberals," Singh said. "It's not that Trump's decision permeates ideology."

During the 2024 campaign, Trump publicly linked his plan to Ulbricht's verdict with a bid to the White House. Trump sparked applause amid the applause of Ulbricht supporters.

Meanwhile, the release of Larry Hoover was advocated by artist Ye - formerly known as Kanye West, who thanked Trump on social media platform X this week.

In his first semester, Trump pardoned Alice Marie Johnson after reality TV star Kim Kardashian called for release. Johnson was convicted in 1996 and was sentenced to life imprisonment for his nonviolent role as part of a cocaine trafficking ring in Memphis, Tennessee. Earlier this year, Trump appointed her as his "pardonation of Tsar."

In social media posts, Johnson also praised the president's latest round of pardons.

Johnson said on Platform X: "Today 26 people were awarded forgiveness and pardon. Each represents a story of redemption, healing and resilience. Their second chance is the second chance in life."