50 Cent has responded after President Trump gave a surprising response about the possibility of pardoning Diddy if he's found guilty.
Combs, 55, is currently on trial in New York, facing federal charges including sex trafficking, racketeering conspiracy, and transportation to engage in prostitution. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
The courtroom has already seen a parade of bombshell testimonies. Casandra “Cassie” Ventura, Diddy's ex-girlfriend, took the stand to describe alleged years of abuse.
The former couple dated on and off for nearly a decade before finally splitting for good in 2018, with Ventura claiming in court documents obtained by NBC News that she was “lured” into dating Diddy - who she described as a “vicious, cruel, and controlling man” - shortly after signing with his record label, and claimed she feared retaliation if she rejected his advances.
Rapper Kid Cudi also testified in court and spoke about the 2012 firebombing of his Porsche, which he implied may have been linked to Combs.
A male escort known as “The Punisher” also gave disturbing testimony. Despite a push by the defense for a mistrial over claims of prosecutorial misconduct, a judge recently denied the motion.
As the trial unfolds, President Donald Trump was asked in the Oval Office on May 30 whether he’d consider pardoning Combs if convicted.
“Nobody’s asked, but I know people are thinking about it. I think some people have been very close to asking,” the 78-year-old responded, per The Hollywood Reporter.
“First of all, I’d look at what’s happening, and I haven’t been watching it too closely, although it’s certainly getting a lot of coverage," he added.
While reflecting on his past relationship with Combs, Trump noted, “He used to really like me a lot,” adding, “But I think when I ran for politics, sort of, that relationship busted up from what I read.”
Still, POTUS claimed personal feelings wouldn’t interfere with his judgment. “If I think somebody was mistreated, whether they like me or don’t like me, it wouldn’t have any impact on me. I would certainly look at the facts.”
50 Cent, however, was quick to react to the idea of a potential pardon. “He said some really bad things about Trump, it’s not ok,” the 'In Da Club' rapper wrote in a now-removed Instagram post, per USA Today. “Im gonna reach out so he knows how I feel about this guy.”
In another post, the 49-year-old, who has been feuding with Combs since the early 2000s, warned: “Donald doesn’t take well to disrespect, and doesn’t forget who chooses to go against him.”
After a headline suggested he was trying to sabotage Combs’ chances of clemency, 50 Cent clarified: “I didn’t say I would nuke anything, I simply said I will make sure Trump is aware.”
Though a pardon hasn't been formally requested, legal experts say it's within Trump's power.
As Michigan State law professor Brian Kalt explained: “These are federal charges (against Combs), so that’s the main limit. The matter has be federal, it has to be criminal vs. civil, and related to something that’s already been done."
"But the person doesn't have to even be charged yet, or convicted. The Supreme Court has said preemptive pardons are OK," he added.