NEED TO KNOW
Sean “Diddy” Combs has reportedly asked President Donald Trump to pardon his prison sentence, though it doesn’t look like that will be happening any time soon.
In an exclusive report by the New York Times published Thursday, Jan. 8, the outlet said the president, 79, stated that he has no intention of helping the disgraced music mogul, 56.
Trump told reporters for the Times that Combs “asked me for a pardon,” adding that the request from the Bad Boy founder came “through a letter.”
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When asked more details about the request, Trump said, “Oh, would you like to see that letter?”
The Times noted that the president did not produce the letter.
PEOPLE reached out to the White House for comment, with a spokesperson confirming Trump’s comments to the publication.
Combs’ spokesperson declined to comment when reached by PEOPLE.
The entertainer and record executive was convicted on two prostitution-related charges in July, and sentenced to 50 months in jail in October.
Thursday’s report is not the first time the possibility of Trump pardoning Combs has been publicly discussed. Trump was previously asked during a May 2025 press briefing about whether or not he would consider granting Combs a pardon, per ABC News.
“I haven’t seen him, I haven’t spoken to him for years,” Trump told a member of the media at the time. “I don’t know. I would certainly look at the facts. If I think somebody was mistreated it wouldn’t matter whether they like me or don’t.”
The reporter noted that Trump once referred to Combs as a friend in 2012. However, Trump stated that Combs “used to really like me a lot” but “that relationship busted up” when he ran for president in 2016. Trump alleged Combs made “nasty statements” about him at the time.
“I know they’re thinking about it,” Trump said of Combs’ team asking him for a pardon. “I think people have been very close to asking.”
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After Combs was acquitted of sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy charges in August, and convicted of lesser charges of transportation to engage in prostitution following his high-profile federal trial in New York City, Trump weighed in.
“Well, he was essentially, I guess, sort of half-innocent,” the president told Newsmax’s Rob Finnerty. “I don’t know what they do, still in jail or something. But he was celebrating a victory, but I guess it wasn’t as good of a victory.”
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Trump added that he used to be “very friendly” with Combs, with whom he has been photographed at various events since the late ’90s.
However, he said things changed when he got into politics.
“I got along with him great. Seemed like a nice guy. I didn’t know him well. But when I ran for office, he was very hostile. … It’s hard,” Trump said.
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“We’re human beings. 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’s more difficult,” he added. “Makes it more, I’m being honest, makes it more difficult to do.”
Combs is scheduled to serve approximately three years in jail, after receiving credit for time served. His release date is May 25, 2028, according to Federal Bureau of Prisons inmate records viewed by PEOPLE on Thursday.
