President Donald Trump confirmed this week that music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs personally reached out to him seeking a presidential pardon. The revelation came just days after Combs began serving a 50-month federal prison sentence for transporting individuals for prostitution under the Mann Act. Read More
Speaking to reporters at the White House, President Trump said he had not made any decision regarding the request but acknowledged that he would review the matter with the Department of Justice. “A lot of people have asked me for pardons. I call him Puff Daddy — he asked me for a pardon. I’ll take a look at it and talk to the DOJ,” Trump said. He added that he was not fully aware of all the details of Combs’ case and that it was too early to make any judgment.
Combs, 55, was convicted earlier this year on two counts related to transporting women for prostitution. His legal team has asked that he be moved to FCI Fort Dix, a low-security federal prison in New Jersey that offers drug treatment and counseling programs. According to his attorneys, such a facility would better support his rehabilitation and allow for easier family contact during his sentence.
Trump’s comments have reignited public debate over whether he might use his presidential clemency powers to intervene in high-profile or controversial cases. His remarks were deliberately neutral, leaving open the possibility of future action without making any firm promises. Reports from earlier this year suggested Trump had privately discussed the idea of pardoning Combs, though there is still no indication that a formal petition has been filed with the Justice Department.
In an earlier interview with Newsmax, Trump hinted at having mixed feelings about Combs, saying that while they were once friendly, their relationship changed after Trump entered politics. “I was friendly with him once, but when I ran for office, he turned on me. It makes things a little more complicated,” Trump said.
Combs’ conviction followed a series of civil lawsuits accusing him of sexual assault, coercion, and racketeering—allegations he has repeatedly denied. A federal judge recently rejected his request to overturn the conviction, meaning he will continue to serve his four-year sentence while appeals are pending.
Neither the White House nor Combs’ legal team has released any new statements about the pardon request. For now, Trump’s acknowledgment of Diddy’s appeal underscores his continued influence over celebrity-driven legal stories and his willingness to merge political calculation with questions of justice and loyalty.
