Sean “Diddy” Combs has formally asked President Donald Trump for a presidential pardon, but the request has already been rejected, according to a new report. In an exclusive interview with The New York Times published Thursday, January 8, Donald Trump confirmed that Combs submitted a written request for clemency and made clear that he does not plan to grant it.
Trump, 79, said the appeal came directly to him. “He asked me for a pardon,” Trump told the outlet, adding that the request arrived “through a letter.” When asked about the document, Trump responded sarcastically, “Oh, would you like to see that letter?”
Sean Combs, 56, was convicted in July on two federal prostitution-related charges following a high-profile trial in New York City. Prosecutors accused the Bad Boy Records founder of transporting individuals across state lines to engage in prostitution. While Combs was acquitted of more serious charges, including sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy, the jury found him guilty on the transportation counts. He was sentenced in October to 50 months in federal prison.
Speculation about a potential pardon has followed Combs since the trial began last summer. In May 2025, Trump was asked during a press briefing whether he would consider granting clemency. At the time, he left the door open. “I don’t know. I would certainly look at the facts,” Trump said. “If I think somebody was mistreated, it wouldn’t matter whether they like me or not.”
However, Trump’s latest comments suggest his position has hardened. He acknowledged that he and Combs once had a friendly relationship, but said it soured when he entered politics. “I got along with him great. Seemed like a nice guy. I didn’t know him well,” Trump said. “But when I ran for office, he was very hostile.”
Trump also admitted that personal history can complicate decisions about pardons. “We’re human beings. We don’t like to have things cloud our judgment, right?” he said. “But when you knew someone, and you were fine and then you run for office and he made some terrible statements… it makes it more difficult to do.”
Combs is currently serving his sentence and is expected to spend roughly three years behind bars after receiving credit for time already served. His projected release date is May 25, 2028.
The denial underscores Trump’s selective approach to clemency, even for high-profile figures with whom he once shared cordial relations. For Combs, the decision appears to close the door on hopes that presidential intervention might shorten his time in prison.
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