Former U.S. President Donald Trump has revealed he would consider pardoning Sean “Diddy” Combs if the music mogul is convicted in his ongoing federal RICO trial. During a recent press conference, Trump responded to questions about the highly publicized case, stating that he would “look at what’s happening” before making a decision.
“First, I’d have to look at what’s happening,” Trump said. “I haven’t been following the case closely.”
Although he acknowledged that the two haven’t spoken in years, Trump noted that their relationship soured after he entered politics.
“He used to really like me a lot,” Trump claimed. “But I think when I ran for politics, it busted up that relationship — from what I read.”
Still, the former president emphasized that personal feelings wouldn’t influence his decision:
“If I think someone was mistreated, whether they like me or don’t like me, it wouldn’t have any impact on me.”
Diddy Faces Serious Federal Charges
In September 2024, Combs was arrested and charged with racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking, and transportation to engage in prostitution as part of a sweeping investigation led by the Southern District of New York (SDNY). He has pleaded not guilty, and his trial is ongoing.
Suge Knight Predicts Trump Will Step In
Trump’s remarks come just days after Suge Knight, the former Death Row Records executive currently serving time in federal prison, predicted Trump would pardon Diddy. In a recent interview with CNN’s Laura Coates, Knight spoke about the trial and expressed an unexpected sense of sympathy for Combs.
“I mean, anytime somebody is fighting for their life and they have kids, you still got to show some type of, you know, sympathy for them,” Knight said. “He might have allegedly done a lot of things, but I don’t want to see the children locked up, you know.”
Despite their long-standing rivalry in the hip-hop world, Knight appeared to support the idea of clemency for Combs, aligning with Trump’s neutral tone.
A Highly Publicized Legal Battle
The federal trial has drawn intense media attention, with former assistants and associates testifying to years of alleged abuse, manipulation, and exploitation. Diddy has maintained his innocence, and his legal team continues to push back against the accusations.
As the case unfolds, Trump’s comments have sparked debate over whether political influence could impact the outcome — or Diddy’s future — if a conviction is secured.