Donald Trump addresses the Libertarian Convention, May 25, 2024

Reporting cited here

1. documented

   At the Libertarian convention on May 25, 2024, Trump promised to commute Silk Road founder Ross Ulbricht’s sentence to time served on his first day in office if elected.

   Passage promising to commute Ross Ulbricht’s sentence to time served on day one

   Silk Road — Trump promises sentence commutation · Trump promises sentence commutation

2. documented

   Trump delivered the substance of his Silk Road clemency promise by granting Ross Ulbricht a pardon on January 21, 2025, rather than only commuting his sentence. The grant occurred on the second day of his term, after the promised first-day timing. The earlier drug-market and sentencing record remains distinct from this clemency decision; Ulbricht later thanked Trump at the September 2026 convention.

   Ross Ulbricht day-one commutation pledge

   Silk Road — clemency promise and documented result · Cited comparison