Tiger King

Animation by Taylor Homes

We wanted to end 2025 in a big way, as we always strive to do, and we could not think of anyone more fitting than Joe Maldonado-Passage, also known as Tiger King. Currently, Joe is serving time in a federal prison in Texas for attempted murder. During our conversation, he spoke candidly about life behind bars, including the widespread illegal drug dealing inside his prison. And on that note, we close out 2025. Here is hoping 2026 is brighter, better, and just as wild as we would not have it any other way!

You ran for president in 2026. You could have been our country’s first gay president. Do you think the Republican Party and Donald Trump would have supported you?

Lots of Republicans support me to this day. Whether Donald Trump would support me or not… you know, he supports himself. He is trying to figure out how to stay in after this term. I think I could have done a much better job for America and the world. And I think I could have brought people together instead of dividing them.

But the Republican Party is generally known for not supporting gay people and their rights.

But that’s not true. The Republican Party does support gay people. They just don’t want it shoved in their faces. I’m an openly gay man, and I don’t support transgender people in other people’s sports. That’s stupid.

You lived your life sort of above the law. Are you secretly super rich, like part of the 1%?

I’m poor as f—k.

Do you feel like you took that tiger thing a bit too seriously, and now you’re like a tiger in a cage?

First of all, I didn’t fall for Tiger King, okay? They took all that footage from my YouTube channel, and that was filmed for a reality show. So Tiger King didn’t come close to showing who I am. I cannot wait to get out of here and make my own show and show the bullshit and the lies people made in Tiger King. It was supposed to be a documentary, and it was supposed to be the truth, and nobody was supposed to be paid. But everyone was paid to talk shit. You should watch season two. They all admitted to perjury. And they lied and handed over evidence proving I am innocent.

So why are you still in prison?

Well, that’s what I’d like to ask Donald Trump.

Why do you think he is not pardoning you?

Because the government doesn’t want to admit that they lied and that they are wrong for their political agenda.

What political agenda?

The Big Cat Cynthia Act (the act banning tigers from private ownership). I kept it from passing for 11 years.

For a minute, you supported Trump. What does “Make America Great Again” mean to you?

I still support Trump. Do I think he is unhinged? A little bit. It doesn’t make much sense to me, blowing up votes and then pardoning the president of Honduras for drug trafficking. I mean, what kind of message does that send to America? Make America great? So far, we are not doing a whole lot for normal people. It’s all for the rich people.

And yet, you still support him?

I mean, yeah. He is doing some good. He is getting some deals done with other countries. Gas prices are coming down a little bit. I mean, we have to do a lot more. Trump is concentrating on ruining his enemies more, and he kind of forgot about the working class of America.

Can you describe yourself in one word?

Compassionate.

Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta company is building AI compounds as big as Manhattan in Louisiana and Oklahoma. They’ll use an unreal amount of electricity. Once there is no light in people’s homes, what would be your top activity?

Build a campfire.

What’s the worst part about being in prison?

Seeing how hypocritical everything is. Because there are more drugs in here than outside. That’s how staff make their money.

What is success for you?

Helping people.

To watch recorded interview click here.