Trump’s Lil Wayne pardon sparks stunned reaction on Twitter: ‘Just when you thought 2021 couldn’t get weirder’

People have reacted with surprise to the news that US president Donald Trump has issued a presidential pardon to rapper Lil Wayne.

Wayne, real name Dwayne Michael Carter Jr, pleaded guilty in December to federal weapons charges following an incident at a Miami airport in 2019, and was facing up to 10 years in prison.

Earlier this year, Wayne had endorsed Trump’s campaign for re-election in a social media post.

The pardon comes amid a wave of pardons and commutations issued by Trump before he leaves office later today (20 January).

Hip-hop artist Kodak Black (real name Bill Kapri) received a commutation after having being charged with falsifying information on federal forms to buy firearms.

“Gotta have @KodakBlack1k & @LilTunechi on the pardon me remix now,” joked rapper Lil Yachty.

Comedian Karlous Miller wrote that Lil Wayne was “smart as f*** for that slick ass move he pulled”, seemingly referring to Wayne’s endorsement of Trump last year.

“I don’t blame Weezy,” he added. “F*** going to the slammer.”

Political journalist Josh Butler wrote: “'Trump pardons Lil Wayne, snubs Joe Exotic’ is exactly the kind of headline this presidency was always going to end with huh.”

Another Twitter user commented: “No Edward Snowden, but Lil Wayne got pardoned? Didn’t even know he was sentenced to prison. Snowden should release a mix tape or something. I don’t get it.”

London DJs The Nextmen wrote: “Trump has pardoned Lil Wayne. Just when you thought 2021 couldn’t get any weirder.”

Democratic president-elect Joe Biden will be inaugurated later today.