Former FTX co-chief executive Ryan Salame appears to be campaigning for a presidential pardon from Donald Trump while serving a federal prison sentence, using social media posts that closely align with Trump-era political themes.
Posts published in recent weeks on Salame’s X account praise Republican priorities, criticise Democrats, and echo Trump’s rhetoric on immigration enforcement and election integrity, fuelling speculation about a clemency push.
In one widely shared message, Salame wrote that if pardoned he would “spend the remainder of my sentence working as an ICE agent,” a comment seen by observers as an explicit appeal to Trump’s policy agenda.
Salame is currently serving a 90-month sentence after pleading guilty in 2023 to campaign finance violations and operating an unlicensed money-transmitting business linked to FTX.
Although federal inmates are barred from directly accessing social media, Salame’s posts are widely understood to be published through third parties acting on his behalf via phone calls or written correspondence.
Several messages also attack federal prosecutors, with Salame claiming he was coerced into a plea deal and portraying his case as politically motivated, language that mirrors Trump’s criticism of the Justice Department.
The campaign comes as Trump has issued a series of high-profile pardons, including cases tied to financial and crypto-related offences, raising questions about whether Salame is positioning himself for similar clemency.