Topline
President Donald Trump has been “privately discussing” whether to pardon Sean “Diddy” Combs amid the rap mogul’s prison sentence for transportation to engage in prostitution as the president mulls a broader slew of pardons—potentially as many as 250—amid the holiday weekend.
Sean “Diddy” Combs poses with now-President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump.
WireImage
Key Facts
Trump is discussing granting clemency to Combs, CBS News reported based on anonymous sources, and will have a meeting Friday afternoon to discuss potential pardons for Combs and a number of other people.
Combs was sentenced to four years in prison last year after being convicted of transportation to engage in prostitution—but acquitted on other, more serious, charges—and Trump has previously confirmed Combs has petitioned him for a pardon.
It’s still unclear if Combs will ultimately get a pardon, and Trump has reportedly gone back and forth in the past on freeing the mogul, with reports last year suggesting he was strongly considering the possibility before the president told The New York Times in January he was not.
Combs is one of a number of people whom Trump is reportedly considering granting a pardon to, and CBS’ reporting comes as other outlets have suggested the president could issue 250 pardons over the July 4th holiday in honor of the U.S.’s 250th anniversary.
In addition to Combs, Trump is also considering granting clemency to people who were convicted on clean-air and emissions violations, CBS reports, as well as rapper Prakazrel “Pras” Michel and Malaysian financier Jho Low, who were convicted for conspiring on foreign lobbying plans aimed at influencing the U.S. government.
Combs’ attorney has not yet responded to a request for comment, while the White House directed Forbes to Trump’s previous comments saying he was not considering pardoning the mogul.
What to Watch for
Trump’s “250 pardons for 250 years” plan is not a given, The Atlantic previously reported, and it remains to be seen how many pardons the president will ultimately issue in the near future. It’s also unclear if Trump will decide to pardon Diddy, with CBS News noting that while the president has been in discussions about granting him clemency, Trump’s pardons team is not including the mogul on the list of recommendations they’ll make to the president on who he should pardon. If Trump doesn’t pardon Combs, his sentence is now set to end in February 2028.
What Has Trump Said About Diddy?
Trump was known to socialize with Combs before becoming president, but has said his opinion of the rapper soured after entering politics. “I was very friendly with him. I got along with him great, and seemed like a nice guy,” Mr. Trump told Newsmax about Combs in 2025. “I didn’t know him well. But when I ran for office, he was very hostile.” Trump said in October 2025 that Combs had requested a pardon and he would “take a look at it” and “speak to the Justice Department” about the request, noting he still calls the rapper “Puff Daddy.” In a January interview with the Times, Trump said Combs had sent him a letter formally requesting a pardon, but claimed he was not considering granting it.
Key Background
Combs was indicted in 2024 on charges of racketeering, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution, with prosecutors alleging the mogul violently coerced women to engage in sex acts with commercial sex workers and had a “pattern” of emotional, physical and sexual abuse. The rapper pleaded not guilty to all charges against him and was ultimately acquitted of the most serious racketeering and sex trafficking charges at trial in 2025. While those more serious charges could have carried life sentences, Combs was sentenced to just over four years in prison for his crimes, though he still faces separate civil lawsuits over his alleged abuse. The rapper has apologized for his wrongdoing, saying in remarks ahead of his sentencing that he had “been humbled and broken to my core.” Combs asked the court for “mercy” and thanked the court for letting him speak, saying, “One of the hardest things I’ve had to handle is having to be quiet, not being able to express how sorry I am for my actions.”
Further Reading
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Sentenced To 4 Years In Prison (Forbes)
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ Attorneys Contacted Trump Administration About Potential Pardon, Report Says (Forbes)