“Freedom Is Harder”: Todd & Julie Chrisley Say Post-Prison Life Hits Harder Than Lockup After Trump Pardon

Fresh off their headline-making presidential pardons, Todd and Julie Chrisley are discovering that returning to civilian life comes with its own unexpected burdens—ones that, they claim, cut deeper than life behind bars.

The former Chrisley Knows Best stars opened up on the July 23 episode of their revamped podcast Chrisley Confessions 2.0, revealing that life after prison has been far from the celebratory homecoming many imagined.

“Life is rougher than prison life,” Todd bluntly admitted. “That’s a sad thing to say because it is so horrific, the conditions that you're there for... but from an emotional and psychological standpoint, it is harder.”

Julie echoed that sentiment, adding that the abrupt transition has been jarring.

“We were thrown right back into the real world,” she said. “No halfway house. No parole officer. Nothing to ease the adjustment. Just… out.”

🕊️ From Prison Time to Primetime Headlines

The Chrisleys were convicted in 2022 of bank fraud and tax evasion, resulting in a combined 19-year sentence. Todd began a 10-year bid (reduced from 12), while Julie faced a 5-year term (down from an original 7). The couple maintained their innocence from day one—and served over two years before President Donald Trump granted them full, unconditional pardons in May 2025.

Despite being reunited, the emotional residue of incarceration lingers.

“There’s very little you can do in prison, but emotionally… it was almost simpler,” Julie shared. “People told me that when I first got there: You can’t live out there and in here at the same time. And they were right.”

Todd noted that the slow detachment from the outside world becomes a survival mechanism—one that doesn’t just fade after release.

“You get into your own routine, and as crazy as it sounds, it gets easier being apart from your kids,” Julie said. “That doesn’t mean you don’t love them. It means you have to protect what’s left of yourself.”

👨‍👩‍👧 Savannah Chrisley & The Fight for Freedom

Their daughter Savannah Chrisley played a pivotal role in lobbying for the pardons, advocating tirelessly for her parents' release through public appearances and direct outreach to the Trump camp. Now that her parents are home, the family is rebuilding—but not without scars.

“We’re free, yes,” Julie said, “but freedom doesn’t come with a manual.”

MainEvent.News | Backstage Take

Prison was the punishment, but reintegration may be the real sentence. The Chrisleys aren’t painting their return as a redemption arc—yet. What we’re seeing is a rare moment of unfiltered vulnerability from two people who once built an empire on image. And that makes this next chapter worth watching—even if it’s a little uncomfortable.

📢 Listen to “Chrisley Confessions 2.0” now streaming on all major platforms.
📺 For more on this developing story, stay with MainEvent.News.