Here’s Why President Trump Shouldn’t Pardon RHONJ’s Joe Giudice

Just when you thought 2025 couldn’t get any weirder, Joe Giudice is back in the headlines. And this time, he’s not selling pizza or cheating on his wife. Nope, the Real Housewives of New Jersey alum has taken to Instagram to beg President Donald Trump for a presidential pardon publicly. Yes, really.

In an unexpected and frankly, desperate move, Joe is hoping to reverse his deportation to Italy and return to the U.S. after serving time for fraud. But while Joe’s plea is making waves among RHONJ fans and tabloids alike, not everyone thinks he deserves a second chance, especially from someone with as much power as the US President. Let’s break down the drama and why this pardon request is rubbing so many people the wrong way.

Real Housewives of New Jersey’s Joe Giudice takes to IG to beg Trump for Pardon

Late last week, Joe posted a message on Instagram in which he pleaded with the POTUS to do the right thing and grant him a presidential pardon. The post, which featured Joe posing with his four daughters, was part heartfelt, part PR stunt. He wrote, “I’m Joe Giudice. I served my time, and I’ve been deported from the U.S. for nearly a decade.” He added, “I was raised in Jersey, I’m a father of four amazing daughters, and I just want to be allowed to visit them again.” The former contractor then added, “President Trump, I respect you and I’m asking for a second chance.” The former Real Housewives of New Jersey star even went as far as to tag the president and his son, Donald Jr.

The comments section quickly exploded, with fans, trolls, and even a few Bravo alums chiming in. Some expressed sympathy, saying Joe had paid the price and should be allowed back. Former castmember and MAGA supporter Siggy Flicker wrote, “I’m trying. Joe should be back home with his beautiful daughters!!!!!!” But others weren’t so forgiving. And let’s be real. This isn’t the first time Joe’s tried to work the system. But now that he’s publicly name-dropping Trump in a last-ditch effort? It’s giving many law-abiding citizens a bad taste in their mouths.

Politics aside, the idea of Joe receiving a presidential pardon feels like a bad Bravo plot twist. Yes, he’s a reality TV personality. Yes, his daughters miss him. But should that grant someone special treatment under federal law? Let’s not forget: presidential pardons are intended for exceptional cases, usually where someone has shown overwhelming evidence of rehabilitation or was wrongfully convicted. Joe? He pleaded guilty. He served his sentence. And he got deported because of it. That’s not a broken system. That’s the system working exactly how it was designed. Trump may love a reality TV comeback, but this isn’t Celebrity Apprentice. Giving Joe a pardon would send the message that fame can buy forgiveness and that’s a dangerous precedent.

He broke the law

Let’s rewind for a moment. Joe, along with his ex-wife, Teresa Giudice, both pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, one count of bankruptcy fraud by concealment of assets, one count of bankruptcy fraud by false oaths, and one count of bankruptcy fraud by false declarations. We’re not talking about a one-time mistake here. This was years of deception, fake documents, and financial schemes that caught up with them. Joe didn’t just make a mistake; he committed serious federal crimes. And while he served his time in prison, the consequences didn’t stop there. As a non-citizen, deportation is part of the legal process. That’s not political. That’s the law.

He never applied for citizenship

Here’s the kicker: Joe had every opportunity to become a U.S. citizen, and he chose not to. Born in Italy but raised in the U.S., he spent most of his life in New Jersey, built a business, started a family, and filmed countless seasons of the Real Housewives of New Jersey. But he never took the time to formalize his status. He once shared, “I mean, my mistake was I never became a citizen. Yeah, that was stupid of me. But when you’re raised here as a kid, you go to school here, you do everything here, it’s not a big deal. I don’t know why. I just never got one when I was supposed to get one.”

Now that the consequences have arrived, he wants special treatment. But if you ignore the rules until they catch up with you, should you really get a free pass because you were on Bravo?

He’s being called out for racism

If the legal issues weren’t enough, Joe’s public image has taken another hit. This time, it’s allegations of racism. Last week, Joe posted a meme mocking the former First Lady. The image featured a racially charged caption and rude commentary. In a cultural climate where accountability matters more than ever, Joe’s past behavior is raising questions about whether he’s truly changed or just desperate. 

The Real Housewives of New Jersey is available to stream on Peacock and Hayu in the UK and Ireland.