Trump Says He’d Pardon Pete Rose: Baseball’s Hit King ‘Went Through 40 Years of Hell’

Pete Rose got more hits than anyone who ever played Major League Baseball: 4,256. He died last year still outside the Hall of Fame. On Monday, President Trump said he would pardon him.

Trump made the promise in the White House briefing room, standing next to UFC CEO Dana White, in remarks posted by the White House.

What was said

A reporter first asked White what he thought. “I don’t advise the president on anything ever,” White said, “but yeah, I think it’s fair. I think it’s fair to pardon Pete Rose.”

Trump jumped in to ask why Rose would even need one. When the reporter said it was over tax charges, Trump answered right away. “I’d give Pete Rose a pardon,” he said. “I think Pete Rose was very mistreated.”

Trump said Rose “shouldn’t have done it,” but “he went through 40 years of hell.” He added that Rose should have been in the Baseball Hall of Fame “a long time ago,” and that he had talked to the commissioner about it before Rose died.

What the pardon would cover

A president can only pardon federal crimes, and Rose’s was a tax case. In 1990, he pleaded guilty to two felony counts of filing false federal tax returns, admitting he underreported more than $300,000 from autograph signings, memorabilia sales, appearances and gambling winnings, OutKick reported. He served five months in federal prison and paid a $50,000 fine, The New York Times reported at the time.

The gambling is a separate matter. Baseball banned Rose for life in 1989 for betting on the game. In May 2025, after his death, Commissioner Rob Manfred lifted that ban, which made Rose eligible for the Hall of Fame. He hasn’t been voted in yet.

Not the first time

Trump first promised a “complete PARDON” of Rose on Truth Social in early 2025 but hasn’t signed one, NBC News noted. Rose died in September 2024 at age 83.

A pardon now would not change any record books. But for fans who think the Hit King paid enough, it would clear his name.