Trump denies Diddy presidential pardon request

Published on: January 9, 2026 3:56 PM

Former President Donald Trump revealed on Thursday that Sean “Diddy” Combs officially request a presidential pardon. According to a report by the New York Times, Trump confirmed the request arrived in writing but stated he has no plans to grant clemency to the music mogul.

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Trump, 79, noted that he and Combs were once friendly but said their relationship deteriorated after he entered politics. “I got along with him great. Seemed like a nice guy. But when I ran for office, he was very hostile,” Trump said, adding that their past interactions made the pardon request more complicated.

The Bad Boy Records founder, 56, was convicted in July on two prostitution-related charges and sentenced to 50 months in prison in October. He was acquitted of sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy charges but found guilty of transporting individuals to engage in prostitution.

Talks of a possible presidential pardon for Combs had circulated since his trial last summer. During a May 2025 press briefing, Trump had stated he would consider clemency if someone was mistreated, but emphasized that personal and political tensions could influence such decisions.

Trump also joked about the letter, asking reporters, “Oh, would you like to see that letter?” while reiterating that he would not act on the request. Combs is expected to serve roughly three years of his sentence after credit for time served, with a projected release date of May 25, 2028.

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The announcement comes amid public scrutiny of Trump’s past pardon decisions, highlighting the intersection of celebrity, politics, and the criminal justice system in the United States.