As the fifth anniversary of George Floyd‘s death approached, debates reignited over the role of fentanyl in his demise. At a Chicago rally on May 25, 2025, Turning Point USA contributor Savanah Hernandez engaged protesters with questions about Floyd’s autopsy findings. Many attendees dismissed the relevance of fentanyl in discussions about Floyd’s death, with some expressing hostility toward the topic.
The official autopsy by the Hennepin County Medical Examiner listed Floyd’s cause of death as “cardiopulmonary arrest complicating law enforcement subdual, restraint, and neck compression,” categorizing it as a homicide. The report noted the presence of fentanyl and methamphetamine in Floyd’s system but did not attribute his death to a drug overdose.
An independent autopsy commissioned by Floyd’s family concluded that he died from “asphyxiation from sustained pressure,” further emphasizing the role of police restraint in his death.
Despite these findings, some political figures, including Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, have asserted that Floyd died of a drug overdose, advocating for a pardon of former officer Derek Chauvin. However, former President Donald Trump stated in March 2025 that he was not considering a pardon for Chauvin.
Medical experts during Chauvin’s trial testified that while drugs were present in Floyd’s system, the primary cause of death was the lack of oxygen due to police restraint. Dr. Martin Tobin, a pulmonologist, stated that Floyd’s death was caused by low oxygen levels resulting from the restraint, not a fentanyl overdose.
