After serving 21 years of her life sentence, Alice Marie Johnson spent her first morning outside of prison voicing her gratitude to President Donald Trump. The president commuted Johnson’s sentence on Wednesday, thanks in part to an impassioned plea from reality star Kim Kardashian West.
Johnson appeared Thursday on CBS’s “This Morning” to reflect on her first night of freedom, and her first observation was truly a simple thing that most Americans take for granted. She said, “I woke up without a bunk bed over my head. It was great.” (RELATED: She’s Out! Alice Johnson Released — Praises Jesus, Kim Kardashian And Trump)
“I’m doing great. I woke up without a bunk bed over my head.” — Alice Johnson on POTUS granting clemency after @KimKardashian‘s plea https://t.co/EPtL6mx3Xs pic.twitter.com/GDUtsVcqfh
— CBS This Morning (@CBSThisMorning) June 7, 2018
When asked what she had noticed on her first night, Johnson laughed, saying that the city had certainly changed. New buildings had left her wondering where she was at times, and technology had certainly become more ubiquitous.
“The city has changed a lot… I noticed people on the phone a lot.” — Alice Johnson says of her first night out of prison after 21 years https://t.co/bSr2GZTPSX pic.twitter.com/qYv7N2waYZ
— CBS This Morning (@CBSThisMorning) June 7, 2018
Johnson delivered a heartfelt and personal thank you to Kardashian, saying, “You never gave up on me and you fought until I was free.”
Alice Johnson has a special message for @KimKardashian who plead to get her out of prison: “Thank you for never giving up. You did it. You never gave up on me and you fought until I was free… I’d just like to thank her and hug her.” pic.twitter.com/aV0XnEHGwE
— CBS This Morning (@CBSThisMorning) June 7, 2018
But she didn’t stop there — Johnson also thanked President Trump for hearing her story and giving her a second chance. She said, “Thank you so much … I am going to be that one that is going to make you so proud, and I hope that my life will encourage him to do this for others.”
Alice Johnson’s message to @realDonaldTrump after being released from prison 21 years later: “I would tell President Trump, ‘Thank you so much. That I am going to be that one that is going to make you so proud.’ And I hope that my life encourages him to do this for others too.” pic.twitter.com/Jg9xsutqbu
— CBS This Morning (@CBSThisMorning) June 7, 2018
President Trump wished Johnson the best via Twitter on Thursday morning as well.
Good luck to Alice Johnson. Have a wonderful life!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 7, 2018