President Donald Trump has dismissed the idea of pardoning Sean "Diddy" Combs following the music mogul’s recent conviction, despite earlier speculation that he was considering it. Trump’s comments have reignited social media buzz, with rapper 50 Cent once again weighing in with his trademark trolling.
Reports surfaced earlier this week suggesting Trump was "seriously considering" a pardon for Diddy. However, in a recent interview with Newsmax, Trump cast doubt on the possibility, citing past tensions between himself and Combs.
Sean "Diddy" Combs pictured alongside Paris Hilton and 50 Cent in Las Vegas, 2007. Credit: Johnny Nunez / WireImage / Getty Images.
“When I ran for office, he was very hostile,” Trump said. “It’s hard, you know? We’re human beings. And we don’t like to have things cloud our judgment, right? But when you knew someone and you were fine, and then you run for office, and he made some terrible statements. So I don’t know… it makes it more difficult to do.”
Trump added that Diddy was “sort of half-innocent,” referencing the mixed outcome of the case. “He was celebrating a victory, but I guess it wasn’t as good of a victory.”
Combs was recently convicted on two counts of transporting individuals for prostitution. He was acquitted on charges of racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking. He faces up to 20 years in prison, with sentencing scheduled for October 3.
Rapper and entrepreneur 50 Cent (who has been vocal throughout Diddy’s legal troubles) didn’t miss the opportunity to comment. He posted an AI-generated image of himself laughing with Trump, accompanied by the caption: “Can you believe he thought he was getting pardoned. No Sir, you are not. You said very nasty things…”
The post quickly gained traction online. One commenter joked: “Who taught 50 how to use AI? Show yourself!” Another added: “I just KNEW you were coming with a post.”
Others offered more pointed responses. “50, you doing too much now bro,” one user wrote, while another observed: “I wish I was petty as you.”
Despite some backlash, many followers applauded 50 Cent’s humor and consistency in trolling. One fan even called it “the best one by far.”
With Diddy’s sentencing still months away and Trump remaining a controversial political force, the intersection of politics, pop culture, and celebrity feuds shows no signs of slowing down.
Featured image credit: Paras Griffin / Getty Images.
During an interview on Finnerty with Newsmax host Rob Finnerty on Friday (August 1), the 79-year-old president was asked point-blank if he would pardon the hip-hop mogul, who was recently convicted on two federal counts of transporting individuals across state lines for prostitution.
While he didn’t rule it out entirely, he made it clear that Combs' past hostility toward him could be a factor in his thinking.
“He was essentially, I guess, sort of half-innocent,” Trump said, referring to the rapper’s acquittal on the more serious sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy charges.
“Still in jail or something, but he was celebrating a victory. But I guess it wasn’t as good of a victory," he added.
The president reflected on his history with Diddy, saying they were once “very friendly,” and he “got along with him great,” but added: “I didn’t know him well.”
The relationship soured after Trump launched his political career. “When I ran for office, he was very hostile,” Trump said. “It’s hard, you know? We’re human beings. And we don’t like to have things cloud our judgment, right?”
He continued, “When you knew someone and you were fine, and then you run for office, and he made some terrible statements … I don’t know. It makes it more difficult to do.”
Trump said he was friendly with Sean "Diddy" Combs before Trump ran for office. Credit: Johnny Nunez / Getty
Indeed, Combs has publicly criticized the 47th President over the years, including a 2020 interview with Charlamagne tha God in which he said: “White men like Trump need to be banished. That way of thinking is real dangerous.” In 2017, he told The Daily Beast, “We don’t really give a f*** about Trump," per Rolling Stone.
Still, Trump previously said he would be open to reviewing the facts of the case. “I would certainly look at the facts,” he told reporters in May. “I know people are thinking about it. People have been very close to asking.”
Combs has publicly criticized the 47th President. Credit: Ron Galella / Getty
That behind-the-scenes lobbying effort has intensified in recent weeks, according to the outlet.
The 'I'll Be Missing You' rapper's associates began reaching out to Trump transition and administration officials soon after Trump’s re-election.
Three sources told the outlet that Combs’ allies have even offered large sums, reportedly in the mid-six figures, to political operatives with ties to Trump in hopes of securing a pardon.
But not everyone in Trump’s circle is on board, as some senior officials have expressed concern about granting leniency in such a high-profile case, particularly while the administration is still facing scrutiny over its handling of the Jeffrey Epstein investigation.
Rolling Stone reported that several survivors are preparing to send a letter to the president, urging him not to issue a pardon. A draft of the letter, reviewed by the outlet, reads in part that “a pardon would not be justice" but a "devastating message to survivors everywhere: that our lives, our pain, and our truth are still negotiable".
Sean 'Diddy' Combs has been found not guilty on three charges and guilty on two others. Credit: John Shearer / Getty
Combs’ legal team is also pressing the issue through the courts. This week, his attorneys filed a 62-page motion asking a judge to either vacate his prostitution convictions or grant a new trial focused solely on those two counts.
They also filed a separate motion requesting that he be released on bail while awaiting sentencing.
However, prosecutors from the Southern District of New York hit back by filing their own motion, arguing that Combs should remain in custody until his sentencing, currently set for October 3.
Almost a month after Sean “Diddy” Combs was found guilty on two federal charges involving the transportation of individuals across state lines for prostitution, US President Donald Trump has addressed the possibility of granting him a pardon.
In a candid interview with Newsmax host Rob Finnerty on August 1, Trump reflected on his past friendship with Combs, the rapper’s subsequent criticism, and the complexities of considering a pardon for someone recently convicted in federal court.
“He was essentially, I guess, sort of half-innocent,” Trump told Newsmax, referring to Combs’ acquittal on the more serious charges of sex trafficking and racketeering. “Still in jail or something, but he was celebrating a victory. But I guess it wasn’t as good of a victory.”
Trump noted that he and Combs were once “very friendly,” but things changed after Trump entered politics. “When I ran for office, he was very hostile,” Trump added.
“It’s hard… We’re human beings. And we don’t like to have things cloud our judgment.”
Combs has publicly criticized Trump after previously being "friendly". Credit: Ron Galella / Getty
When Finnerty asked, “But more likely a no for Combs?” Trump replied: “I would say so.”
Legal team distances itself from pardon speculation
While Trump aired his thoughts, Combs’ lead defense attorney, Marc Agnifilo, spoke with Variety the same day to clarify his team’s position. Agnifilo made it clear that seeking a presidential pardon is not part of the legal defense strategy.
“I am not involved in that in the least. I have literally no idea,” he said. “There are times I think there’s nothing to it, and there are times I think it’s just rumor mill stuff. But, I do not purport to know the president’s mind.”
He added: “My end of the business is very focused on the case alone — the merit of the case and what happened in the courtroom. I don’t do anything else.”
Inside the courtroom: Why Diddy’s team is fighting for a retrial
Nearly a month after the verdict, his attorneys submitted a 62-page motion seeking to vacate the two convictions under the Mann Act or, alternatively, secure a new trial. The Mann Act, a law dating back to 1910, was used in high-profile prosecutions including those of Ghislaine Maxwell and R. Kelly.
Sean "Diddy" Combs is due to be sentenced on October 3. Credit: Shareif Ziyadat / Getty
Combs was found guilty of transporting women, including ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura and another identified only as “Jane,” for prostitution. His legal team contends that the law was misapplied in his case.
“Sean Combs has basically been convicted for using the services of a sex worker, and that’s just not really prosecuted anymore,” Agnifilo told Variety. “The Mann Act is not supposed to be applied to the user of prostitution services. …It’s supposed to be used for people who make money from the business of prostitution.”
Agnifilo claims the charges reflect a misuse of federal statutes: “He’s been convicted as a john, not a pimp. That’s an exceptional circumstance.”
Bail denied amid allegations of past domestic violence
Combs was denied bail ahead of his October 3 sentencing. The judge cited Combs’ history of domestic violence—a fact the defense acknowledged throughout the trial—as a major factor.
Most incidents, according to Agnifilo, are dated prior to 2018, with one exception. The woman referred to as “Jane” testified about a 2024 altercation during which Combs allegedly assaulted her and later hosted a “freak-off” involving a male escort.
Cassie dated Diddy for approximately 11 years. Credit: Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic/Getty Images
While prosecutors cited the incident as the clearest example of sex trafficking in the trial, Agnifilo emphasized that Combs had entered a domestic violence program before his arrest. “He was attending classes… I think he was doing well,” the lawyer said, adding: “We hope he gets back out and starts to finish the hard work he started.”
Life behind bars: reflection, writing, and hope
Combs has now been in custody for nearly 11 months at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn. Agnifilo speaks with him daily.
“He misses his kids. He’s learned a lot,” the lawyer said. “His time in jail has given him the ability to reflect and consider his life… He’s asking himself: ‘Have I lived up to the blessings I’ve been given?’ And I think his conclusion is: ‘Not in every aspect of my life.’”
Combs has been journaling and working on essays during his incarceration. He’s also exploring ways to initiate inmate programs in a facility that, according to Agnifilo, currently offers none.
“He’s trying to pass the time productively. He tells me, ‘I have more to give,’” said Agnifilo. “Sometimes — not all the time — he looks at these consequences as a blessing.”
Behind-the-scenes lobbying efforts and backlash
Despite the legal team’s denial, Rolling Stone reports that allies of the rap mogul have been quietly lobbying Trump for a pardon. These efforts allegedly include offers of mid-six-figure payments to Trump-aligned political operatives.
But granting leniency could come with serious political fallout. Survivors of sexual violence are reportedly preparing to send a letter urging Trump not to intervene. A draft reviewed by Rolling Stone reads, “A pardon would not be justice but a devastating message to survivors everywhere: that our lives, our pain, and our truth are still negotiable.”
Whether or not Diddy will be granted a retrial — or a presidential pardon — remains to be seen. For now, his legal team is banking on overturning the Mann Act convictions through the courts, while Trump’s cryptic remarks suggest a clemency decision is far from imminent.
As Sean "Diddy" Combs faces a barrage of federal charges in a closely watched trial in New York, President Donald Trump has made headlines of his own after being asked if he would pardon the disgraced rapper if found guilty.
Diddy, 55, is currently standing trial on five serious criminal charges including racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking, and transportation to engage in prostitution.
He has pleaded not guilty to all counts, but faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted.
A High-Stakes Trial with High-Profile Testimonies
The trial, now entering its third week, has already seen shocking testimony from several key figures.
Diddy’s ex-girlfriend Casandra “Cassie” Ventura took the stand to recount alleged years of abuse. Rapper Kid Cudi testified that Diddy may have been linked to the 2012 firebombing of his Porsche. A male escort known only as “The Punisher” also described bizarre encounters, adding to the list of disturbing allegations.
Diddy and Cassie dated for around 11 years. Credit: Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic/Getty Images
Earlier this week, a judge denied the defense's request for a mistrial, following claims that prosecutors improperly suggested Diddy had tampered with the investigation into the Porsche incident.
Trump: “I’d Certainly Look Into the Facts”
Asked during a press conference on May 30 whether he would consider pardoning Diddy, Trump didn’t shut the door.
“Nobody’s asked, but I know people are thinking about it. I think some people have been very close to asking,” Trump said, according to multiple reports, including 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. “I haven’t seen him. I haven’t spoken to him in years.”
Trump acknowledged that he and Diddy had once been close. “He used to really like me a lot,” Trump said, recalling their interactions prior to his political career. “But I think when I ran for politics, sort of, that relationship busted up from what I read," the POTUS added.
Asked during a press conference on May 30 whether he would consider pardoning Diddy, Trump didn’t shut the door. Credit: Chip Somodevilla / Getty
The president emphasized that personal feelings wouldn’t influence his decision: “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.”
From “Good Friend” to Political Distance
Back in 2012, during an episode of The Celebrity Apprentice, Trump described Diddy as a “good friend.” But the tone appears to have changed since Trump entered the political arena.
“You become a much different person when you run for politics and you do what’s right,” Trump said. “Our country is doing really well because of what we’re doing, so it’s not a popularity contest.”
Though he hasn’t ruled out a pardon, Trump made it clear no formal request has been made. Still, he noted: “I know they’re thinking about it.”
Credit: Win McNamee / Getty
Presidential Pardons: Trump’s Track Record
Trump’s comments come just days after he issued pardons to reality stars Todd and Julie Chrisley, who were convicted of tax evasion and bank fraud. Rapper NBA YoungBoy also received clemency after serving time for gun-related offenses.
“I want to thank President Trump for granting me a pardon and giving me the opportunity to keep building — as a man, as a father, and as an artist,” the rapper, whose real name is Kentrell Gaulden, said in a statement.
These recent pardons have fueled speculation among social media users that Trump could be positioning himself to offer Diddy similar relief.
The charges Diddy faces are being brought by the powerful US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York. With witness testimonies growing increasingly damning, and the trial expected to continue into early July, the stakes couldn’t be higher for the Bad Boy Records founder.
As the courtroom drama continues to unfold, Trump’s willingness to potentially weigh in adds another twist to a case already fraught with celebrity, controversy, and the looming shadow of presidential influence.
If you or somebody you know has been affected by any of the issues in this article, please contact The National Sexual Assault Hotline on 800.656.HOPE (4673), available 24/7. Or you can chat online via online.rainn.org.
50 Cent has responded after President Trump gave a surprising response about the possibility of pardoning Diddy if he's found guilty.
50 Cent spoke about the president's comments on the Diddy trial. Credit: Theo Wargo / Getty
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.
Sean 'Diddy' Combs is currently on trial. Credit: Jason Kempin / Getty
“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.”
Asked during a press conference whether he would consider pardoning Diddy, Trump didn’t shut the door. Credit: Pool / Getty
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.
Featured image credit: Sergione Infuso - Corbis / Getty
The White House has denied that Donald Trump was considering commuting Diddy’s sentence as the incarcerated rapper announced that he will appeal his sentence.
Legal representatives for Diddy announced Monday that they will appeal on behalf of the music mogul - real name Sean Combs - against his conviction on two charges of transportation for the purposes of prostitution.
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