
July 31, 2025 — As Sean “Diddy” Combs awaits sentencing on October 3, 2025, following his conviction on federal prostitution-related charges, speculation about a potential presidential pardon from Donald Trump has surfaced.
However, official statements from the White House and legal experts clarify that no such action is confirmed, emphasizing the complexities of the case and the administration’s focus on other priorities.
Combs, the 55-year-old music mogul, was found guilty on July 2, 2025, of two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution after an eight-week trial in New York.
He was acquitted of more severe charges, including racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking, which could have led to a life sentence.
The guilty verdict carries a maximum penalty of 10 years, though legal analysts predict a sentence of 2 to 3 years, accounting for time served and sentencing guidelines.
Combs remains detained at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, with repeated bail requests, including a recent $50 million bond motion, denied by Judge Arun Subramanian due to concerns over past violent behavior.
Rumors of a possible pardon emerged after comments Trump made on May 30, 2025, when he told reporters he would “look at the facts” regarding Combs’ case if he believed the rapper was “mistreated.”
The two men share a history, having socialized in New York’s elite circles in the 1990s and 2000s.
Trump once referred to Combs as a “good friend” during a 2012 episode of The Apprentice.
However, their relationship soured when Combs criticized Trump during his first presidential term and endorsed Joe Biden in 2020.
Despite earlier speculation, a White House spokesperson told The Daily Beast on July 30, 2025, that the administration “will not confirm or deny pardons that may or may not happen,” effectively distancing itself from the rumors.
Legal scholars note that a pardon for Combs would be controversial, given the trial’s revelations of drug-fueled “freak-off” parties and a 2016 hotel video showing Combs assaulting his ex-girlfriend, Cassie Ventura.
“Any pardon would require clear justification, especially in a case with such public scrutiny,” said constitutional law professor Mark Osler of the University of St. Thomas.
Combs’ defense team, led by attorneys Marc Agnifilo and Teny Gerago, has focused on securing his release on bond and preparing an appeal, arguing the conviction was unconstitutional.
They declined to comment on pardon rumors when contacted by Deadline on July 29, 2025.
Meanwhile, rapper Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, a Trump supporter and longtime rival of Combs, publicly opposed any clemency, posting on Instagram on May 31, 2025, that he would urge Trump against it, citing Combs’ past criticism of the president.
The pardon speculation coincides with Trump’s broader use of clemency powers.
Since January 2025, he has granted pardons or commutations to over 1,600 individuals, including January 6 Capitol riot defendants, rapper NBA YoungBoy, and reality stars Julie and Todd Chrisley.
However, sources close to the administration indicate that no decision on Combs is finalized, with one telling Deadline that “any decision on a Combs pardon is in flux until POTUS actually puts his signature on paper.”
As Combs’ sentencing approaches, the focus remains on his legal team’s efforts to reduce his sentence or overturn the conviction.
The White House’s noncommittal stance and the lack of concrete evidence supporting a pardon suggest that Combs’ fate lies primarily with the courts, not the Oval Office.
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