Donald Trump Reveals Diddy ‘Asked Me for a Pardon’ in a Letter, but He Doesn’t Plan to Grant It

Sean “Diddy” Combs has reportedly asked President Donald Trump to pardon his prison sentence — but Trump says he does not plan to act on the request.

In an exclusive report by the New York Times published Thursday, Jan. 8, Trump, 79, told reporters that Combs, 56, “asked me for a pardon,” adding that the request came “through a letter.”

When asked for more detail, Trump replied, “Oh, would you like to see that letter?” The Times reported that Trump did not produce the letter.

A spokesperson for the White House confirmed Trump’s comments, according to the report.

Combs’ spokesperson declined to comment.

Combs, a music executive and entertainer, was convicted on two prostitution-related charges in July and sentenced to 50 months in jail in October.

The possibility of a pardon has surfaced publicly before. Trump was asked during a May 2025 press briefing whether he would consider granting Combs a pardon, per ABC News.

“I haven’t seen him, I haven’t spoken to him for years,” Trump said 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.”

During that exchange, Trump acknowledged he had once described Combs as a friend in 2012, but said their relationship deteriorated after he entered politics in 2016. Trump claimed Combs later made “nasty statements” about him.

“I know they’re thinking about it,” Trump said of Combs’ team seeking a pardon. “I think people have been very close to asking.”

After Combs was acquitted of *** trafficking and racketeering conspiracy charges in August — and convicted of lesser charges of transportation to engage in prostitution following a high-profile federal trial in New York City — Trump commented on the outcome in an interview with Newsmax’s Rob Finnerty.

“Well, he was essentially, I guess, sort of half-innocent,” Trump said. “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.”

Trump added that he used to be “very friendly” with Combs but said that 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. “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. … Makes it more, I’m being honest, makes it more difficult to do.”

Combs is expected to serve roughly three years in prison after receiving credit for time served. His release date is listed as May 25, 2028, according to Federal Bureau of Prisons inmate records.