Trump reportedly considering presidential pardon for Diddy ahead of sentencing

The U.S. President Donald Trump is reportedly weighing the possibility of granting a full presidential pardon to hip-hop mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs, according to a report by Deadline.

Combs, the founder of Bad Boy Records, was recently found partially guilty in a high-profile sex-trafficking trial in New York City. He faces a potential federal prison sentence of two to three years, with sentencing scheduled later this year.

Sources cited by Deadline revealed that close associates of Combs have been actively lobbying the White House for clemency. The pardon request has reportedly gained momentum in recent weeks following the verdict, though no official decision has been made.

However, the decision is still uncertain and subject to change until Trump signs the pardon.

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Combs is scheduled to be sentenced on October 3, 2025, following his partial conviction in a high-profile sex trafficking trial earlier this month in New York City. Since the verdict, several individuals close to the music mogul—both personally and professionally—have reportedly reached out to the White House in a bid for clemency.

Sources familiar with the matter said the situation has evolved from “just another Trump-era rumour” into a serious conversation among insiders. Despite the attention, Combs’ legal team has declined to comment on any potential pardon discussions.

Combs, known for hits like “All About the Benjamins,” has been held without bail at the Metropolitan Detention Centre in Brooklyn since his arrest in September 2024.

He was denied a $50 million bond multiple times. If Judge Arun Subramanian imposes the maximum sentence under federal guidelines, Combs could face two to three years in prison, with credit for time already served.

An appeal is expected to be filed promptly after sentencing by Combs’ legal team, which includes 10 attorneys led by Marc Agnifilo and Teny Gerago.

When contacted, a White House official said that “the White House will not comment on the existence or nonexistence of any clemency request”.

ollowing an eight-week sex-trafficking trial, a federal jury in New York delivered a mixed verdict on July 2, sparing Sean “Diddy” Combs from the most serious criminal charges brought against him by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York.

Even before the verdict was announced, former President Donald Trump suggested he might consider a pardon for Combs. Speaking on May 30, Trump said he would “certainly look at the facts” if he believed someone had been mistreated, regardless of their opinion of him.

While Combs and Trump were once known to have a cordial relationship—Trump publicly referred to Combs as a “good friend” in 2012—the music mogul became a vocal critic during Trump’s presidency and ultimately endorsed Joe Biden in the 2020 election.