Many Expect Vince McMahon To Be Pardoned If Donald Trump Wins US Presidential Election

Vince McMahon might not face any time in jail even if he is charged by federal authorities.

McMahon resigned as TKO Executive Chairman in January 2024 after former WWE employee Janel Grant filed a lawsuit accusing him of sex trafficking, sexual assault, and physical and emotional abuse. McMahon remains under investigation from federal authorities over multiple allegations of sexual assault dating back to the 1980s and he was served with a grand jury subpoena in the Summer of 2023. No charges have been brought against McMahon as of yet, however. 

Even if McMahon were charged, Dave Meltzer noted in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter that many believe the 78-year-old would be pardoned if Donald Trump wins the 2024 United States presidential election. Trump will be the Republican Party nominee for the election and run against incumbent President Joe Biden. Trump has a slight lead in some polls, while the WWE Hall of Famer and Biden are neck-and-neck in others. 

An NBC News report this week claimed that McMahon and Trump have been in regular contact since McMahon's resignation. A spokesperson for McMahon denied that was the case, however, saying: "Mr. McMahon has not been 'staying in touch' or 'been in touch regularly' with former President Trump. He has spoken with Mr. Trump once in the past several years and that was for about a minute or so after Mr. McMahon's back surgery. Other than that, there have been no communications between the two."

McMahon and Trump are known to be good friends dating back to the 1980s. They famously faced off in the Battle of the Billionaires at WrestleMania 23 with Bobby Lashley and Umaga as their representatives. Payments to Trump were part of the hush money scandal that led to Vince McMahon's brief retirement in 2022 before he forced his way back into WWE in January 2023.