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President Trump revealed that Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs has requested a presidential pardon following his recent conviction. Trump noted that he still refers to the disgraced music mogul by his 1990s stage name, “Puff Daddy.”
The revelation came during a press conference where CNN’s Kaitlin Collins asked Trump about potentially pardoning Ghislaine Maxwell. Instead of directly addressing the Maxwell question, Trump pivoted to mention Diddy’s pardon request.
“I have a lot of people have asked me for pardons. I call him ‘Puff Daddy’ has asked me for a pardon,” Trump stated.
So far, Trump hasn’t granted the request.
Combs is currently serving a 50-month prison sentence – significantly less than the 11 years prosecutors sought during his trial.
President Trump: “I have a lot of people have asked me for pardons. I call him ‘Puff Daddy’ has asked me for a pardon.” pic.twitter.com/MS5DnCr6aF
— CSPAN (@cspan) October 6, 2025
Federal agents arrested Combs in New York City last September following years of allegations. The charges against him were extensive – including racketeering, trafficking by force or coercion, and transporting individuals across state lines for prostitution purposes. Despite the multiple charges, he was only convicted on the transportation charge.
During his sentencing, Combs attempted to show remorse through a letter to the judge.
“I lost my way. I got lost in my journey. Lost in the drugs and the excess. My downfall was rooted in my selfishness,” he wrote, seeking leniency. “I have been humbled and broken to my core. Jail is designed to break you mentally, physically and spiritually.”
“Over the past year there have been so many times that I wanted to give up. There have been some days I thought I would be better off dead. The old me died in jail and a new version of me was reborn. Prison will change you or kill you — I choose to live.”
The case has drawn significant public attention – partly due to Combs’ celebrity status and partly due to the severity of allegations that spanned decades. Courtroom sketches of Diddy during his sentencing quickly spread across social media platforms.
Trump’s mention of the pardon request marks the first public acknowledgment of any communication between his office and Combs’ legal team since the conviction.
