Trump did not fulfill his "Day 1" pledge to grant clemency to Ross Ulbricht, the founder of Silk Road.

Despite his campaign promise to free Ross Ulbricht, the founder of Silk Road, on "day one," President Trump did not pardon or commute his prison sentence.

Despite not selling any illegal drugs himself, Ulbricht was convicted for using his website, founded in 2011 and accepting cryptocurrency payments, to facilitate the sale of illicit substances.

On Monday, Trump issued several executive actions, including reducing immigration, designating cartels as foreign terrorist organizations, resuming federal executions, and pardoning or commuting sentences of people convicted in the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot.

Trump's first day back in the White House ended without Ulbricht being released from prison, despite Trump's promise to pardon or commute his sentence last spring.

In May, Trump attempted to win over Libertarian voters by delivering a speech at their convention, but was met with a hostile crowd of boos. Libertarians generally oppose government investigators overreaching in their case against Silk Road and the War on Drugs.

The crowd cheered when Trump announced he would commute Ulbricht's sentence to time served, as they chanted "Free Ross" in the hopes that the then-presidential candidate would take action if elected to allow the Silk Road founder to return home to his family after more than a decade behind bars.

"Trump promised to commute Ross Ulbricht's sentence on day one if he is voted for by the Libertarians, who were holding "Free Ross" signs. Ulbricht has already served 11 years."

The following day, X was used by Ulbricht to respond to Trump's comments on social media.

"If reelected, Donald Trump promised to commute my sentence on day 1," he wrote. "Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. After 11 years in prison, it is hard to express how I feel at this moment. It is thanks to your undying support that I may get a second chance."

In preparation for freedom, Ulbricht's last monthly resolution for 2024 is to study daily and improve his knowledge as much as possible.

Trump pledged to commute Ulbricht's life sentence at a bitcoin conference, earning applause from the audience.

Trump may still grant Ulbricht clemency as early as Tuesday, despite failing to deliver on his promise to free him on his first day back in office.

Angela McArdle, chair of the Libertarian Party, wrote Monday night on X that President Trump's staff confirmed that Ross's pardon would be issued either late tonight or tomorrow morning.

Elon Musk, a member of the newly formed Department of Government Efficiency in the Trump administration, stated that Ulbricht would be released soon.

"Ross will be freed," Musk wrote on X.

In the November election, many Libertarians backed Trump, with his pledge to free Ulbricht being a significant factor in their decision.

Trump initially contemplated interfering to free Ulbricht but eventually opted against granting a pardon during his first term.

From 2011 to his arrest in 2013, Ulbricht ran the website. He was later sentenced to life in prison in 2015.

"I was attempting to assist us in achieving a more liberated and fair society, as Ulbricht stated from his prison cell in 2021. However, we all know that the path to destruction is often paved with noble intentions, and now I find myself in that very place. I am in hell."

"Chase Oliver, a 2024 Libertarian presidential candidate, wrote on X that Trump has finished signing EOs and pardons for the night. He hopes for a commutation of Ross Ulbricht's sentence in the morning."