Joe Exotic, or Joseph Maldonado-Passage as his legal name goes, has made headlines once again. This time, it's not because of his infamous feud with animal rights activist Carole Baskin or his conviction for a murder-for-hire plot against her. It's because he's running for president.
The announcement of his candidacy for the 2024 US Presidential Election came on Wednesday, with Joe Exotic declaring himself as a libertarian candidate. Despite being a convicted felon serving a 22-year sentence for the murder-for-hire plot and multiple wildlife violations, he believes he has a shot at the White House.
Joe Exotic's campaign slogan is "Make America Exotic Again," and he has already launched his campaign website, ExoticForPresident.com. On his website, he outlines his platform of legalizing marijuana, pardoning non-violent drug offenders, and protecting the Second Amendment rights of gun owners.
The former zoo owner from Oklahoma also promises to overhaul the healthcare system, reform the criminal justice system, and reduce the national debt. He criticizes the current political system, calling it corrupt, and vows to bring change to Washington.
But can a convicted felon run for president? The answer is yes. The Constitution does not prohibit felons from running for the presidency, but it does require them to meet the same eligibility requirements as any other candidate, including being a natural-born citizen, at least 35 years old, and having lived in the country for at least 14 years.
Joe Exotic will also face challenges in getting on the ballot in all 50 states. He will need to gather signatures and meet other requirements set by each state's election laws. But with his fame from the Netflix docuseries "Tiger King," he may have a higher chance of getting attention and support than other third-party candidates.
The Libertarian Party has already welcomed Joe Exotic as a potential candidate. The party's chairman, Joe Bishop-Henchman, said in a statement that they "welcome all who would advance individual freedom and reject the authoritarian impulses of the current administration."
Joe Exotic's presidential bid is not the first time he has dabbled in politics. In 2018, he ran for governor of Oklahoma as an independent candidate but lost in the primary election. He also endorsed Donald Trump for president in 2016 and even had a cardboard cutout of the former president at his zoo.
However, Joe Exotic's presidential campaign faces another hurdle: his incarceration. He is currently serving his sentence in a federal prison in Texas, and it's unclear if he will be released before the 2024 election. But that hasn't stopped him from trying to gain attention and support for his campaign.
In a letter to his supporters, Joe Exotic wrote, "I'm not going to sit here and be a victim anymore. I'm a real-life person. I'm not some Joe Schmo off the street. I was 'Tiger King' before it was cool."
His announcement of running for president also took a swipe at his former nemesis, Carole Baskin, who has been a vocal critic of his treatment of animals. He said, "It's time for the haters and the critics to accept that the Tiger King is here to stay and he's not going away."
Joe Exotic's presidential bid may seem like a joke to some, but it's another example of the unconventional nature of American politics. His fame and controversial past may attract attention and support from some voters, while others may see it as a publicity stunt.
Regardless of the outcome, Joe Exotic's candidacy is a reminder that anyone can run for president in America, even a convicted felon with a love for tigers.
