President Donald Trump said Friday he would look into a possible pardon for Sean “Diddy” Combs, the music mogul who is currently on trial in New York for alleged sex trafficking and other crimes.
The shocking comment from Trump came during a news conference when asked if he would consider pardoning him. “Nobody’s asked. But I know people are thinking about it,” Trump said. “I think some people have been very close to asking.”
Combs was arrested in September over accusations of racketeering, and drugging and coercing women into sexual relations with him and others. If convicted, he could face life in prison.
The federal investigation into Combs was spurred in part by a 2023 civil lawsuit filed by Combs’ ex-partner Cassie Ventura, in which she alleged he had engaged in physical abuse and rape. While the case was settled shortly thereafter, numerous other victims filed lawsuits against Combs for similar sexual assault allegations in the following months.
Combs had initially denied Ventura’s allegations. Then in May 2024, CNN released CCTV footage from a Los Angeles hotel hallway where Combs was seen punching and kicking Ventura in 2016. Combs released a video statement on Instagram saying his behavior was “inexcusable.”
His defense team has admitted that he was violent toward Ventura, but contends that he is not guilty of the charges he is currently facing in the trial. Combs has previously denied sexually assaulting anyone.
Trump said that he hasn’t been watching the trial, which began in early May, but noted that “it’s certainly getting a lot of coverage.”
The President added that he hasn’t seen or spoken to Combs in years, but that the two New Yorkers had crossed paths before. “He used to really like me a lot,” Trump said of their relationship. “I think when I ran for politics…that relationship busted up, from what I read. I don’t know—he didn’t tell me that, but I’d read some little bit nasty statements.”
Trump and Diddy were together at the 2005 Art for Life Gala honoring Diddy at his Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida. They were also both photographed, along with First Lady Melania Trump, at a United Nations event in 2008. “I would certainly look at the facts. If I think somebody was mistreated, whether they like me or don’t like me, it wouldn’t have any impact on me.”
Pardoning Combs if he’s found guilty would be a highly controversial move, given the sexual assault allegations and public attention surrounding the case. But Trump has already pardoned a number of celebrities—both in his first term and his second term. This month, his pardons included reality TV stars Todd and Julie Chrisley and rapper NBA YoungBoy. He has also issued a blanket pardon for everyone who participated in the Jan. 6 riot.