President Donald Trump said this week that Sean “Diddy” Combs personally sought a presidential pardon, but he offered no indication he would grant it. The statement came as the music mogul began serving a four-year prison sentence following his conviction on two counts of transporting individuals for prostitution.
Speaking Monday from the Oval Office, Trump told reporters that several people had requested clemency during his tenure. “A lot of people have asked me for pardons,” Trump said. “I call him Puff Daddy. He has asked me for a pardon.”
His comments marked the first public acknowledgment of contact between the president and Combs since the rapper’s sentencing.
President Donald Trump Says Diddy Asked For a Pardon
Trump was also questioned about Ghislaine Maxwell, the convicted sex trafficker and longtime associate of Jeffrey Epstein, whose Supreme Court appeal was denied earlier in the day.
“I’d have to take a look at it,” Trump told CNN’s Kaitlan Collins. “I wouldn’t consider it or not consider it. Don’t know anything about it. I will speak to the DOJ.”
His noncommittal tone left open speculation about whether he might extend clemency to other prominent defendants convicted of sexual misconduct.
Reports surfaced in July suggesting Trump had privately discussed the possibility of pardoning Combs, though no formal request or documentation was confirmed. The issue resurfaced in August during a Newsmax interview, when Trump was pressed again about Combs.
“Well, he was essentially, I guess, sort of half innocent,” Trump said. “I was very friendly with him, but when I ran for office, he was very hostile. So, I don’t know—it’s more difficult.”
Combs, a major figure in hip-hop and entertainment for more than 30 years, has faced mounting legal trouble. His criminal conviction followed several civil lawsuits alleging sexual assault, coercion, and racketeering. The sentence capped a rapid fall for an executive once hailed as a cultural innovator and business leader.
Neither Trump’s representatives nor Combs’ legal team have commented further on any pardon discussions. For now, Trump’s remarks highlight his continued influence over public conversations involving high-profile criminal cases and his tendency to merge political strategy with legal spectacle.
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