President Donald Trump stunned the press after he discussed the possibility of issuing a presidential pardon to disgraced rapper Sean “Diddy” Combs, saying “it’s not a popularity contest” and “I would certainly look at the facts” if asked.
In response to a question by Fox News reporter Peter Doocy during a Friday press conference about his previous friendship with Diddy and whether he would consider a pardon of the former rapper, Trump indicated that he would consider “if I think somebody was mistreated.”
Trump made it clear that “nobody’s asked” for any such pardon, but the president noted: “I know people are thinking about it. I know that they’re thinking about it. I think people have been very close to asking.”
“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,” said Trump.
“I haven’t seen him. I haven’t spoken to him in years,” he went on, adding that Diddy “used to really like me a lot, but I think when I ran for politics … that relationship busted up.”
Trump also said that though he never had a falling out with Diddy after entering politics, he did know that he “read some little bit nasty statements in the paper all of a sudden.”
“It’s different,” he went on.
“You become a much different person when you run for politics, and you do what’s right. I could do other things, and I’m sure he’d like me, and I’m sure other people would like me, but it wouldn’t be as good for our country.”
“As we said, our country is doing really well because of what we’re doing, so it’s not a popularity contest, so I don’t know, 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,” Trump concluded.
Watch Trump’s comments about the Diddy pardon —
When asked whether he would pardon Sean "Diddy" Combs, who is currently on trial for sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy charges, President Trump said he "would certainly look at the facts, if I think someone was mistreated."
Trump said the music mogul used to "really… pic.twitter.com/ecHtcG8ns9
— CBS News (@CBSNews) May 30, 2025
Combs has been charged with racketeering conspiracy (RICO); sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion; and transportation to engage in prostitution.
If found guilty, he faces a minimum of 15 years behind bars or a maximum sentence of life in prison.
He has maintained his innocence throughout the ongoing trial in which witnesses — including many stars — have testified to alleged rape, sexual assault, severe physical abuse, forced labor and drug trafficking.
Despite Trump’s comments, another member of the hip-hop community has openly said that he will do what he can to disuade Trump from issuing a pardon to Combs.
Rapper 50 Cent said he’ll reach out to Trump directly to avoid it going any further.
50 Cent, who is a vocal Trump supporter, shared a clip of the president’s comments in his post and wrote that Combs “said some really bad things about Trump,” adding that he will “reach out so he knows how I feel about this guy.”
In a follow-up post, 50 Cent suggested Combs’ past comments about Trump could prevent a potential pardon.
“Donald doesn’t take well to disrespect, and doesn’t forget who chooses to go against him,” he wrote. He also shared a screenshot of an article suggesting he was trying to “nuke” Combs’ chances of pardon, clarifying, “I didn’t say I would nuke anything, I simply said I will make sure Trump is aware.”
As for the validity of a pardon to Combs, it’s not out of the realm of possibility according to legal experts.
Brian Kalt, a law professor at Michigan State University College of Law, recently told USA TODAY that Trump could in theory pardon Combs and end his trial.
“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,” Kalt said.
“But the person doesn’t have to even be charged yet, or convicted. The Supreme Court has said preemptive pardons are OK.”