President Donald Trump confirmed Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs reached out to him seeking a pardon, but said Wednesday that he’s not considering his request.
Trump said Diddy had “asked me for a pardon,” adding that the request was made “through a letter,” according to The New York Times (NYT). The outlet asked Trump when the letter was dispatched to him.
“Oh, would you like to see that letter?” he said, but did not produce the document. While its the contents remain unclear, Trump ultimately declined to pardon the embattled rapper.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – MAY 15: Sean “Diddy” Combs attends the 2022 Billboard Music Awards at MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 15, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
Trump previously noted that Diddy had asked for clemency, but this was the first official confirmation of the existence of the letter. The White House referred back to what Trump said when the NYT requested a copy of the document.
The Daily Caller requested comment from Combs’ legal team regarding the contents of the letter, and Trump’s refusal to pardon the rapper.
ROCKY MOUNT, NORTH CAROLINA – DECEMBER 19: U.S. President Donald Trump delivers remarks during a rally at the Rocky Mount Event Center on December 19, 2025 in Rocky Mount, North Carolina. Trump spoke on his plans to lower the cost of staples, including gas and health care, while blaming the Biden administration for the economic challenges inherited by his administration. (Photo by Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)
Diddy was convicted on transportation to engage in prostitution charges in July 2025, but found not guilty of the more significant charges of sex trafficking and racketeering. A judge sentenced him to 50 months behind bars in October.
The music mogul’s high-powered legal team appealed the conviction and sentence in December, claiming the judge was unfair in his ruling, according to the NYT.
NEW YORK, NY – MAY 14: Sean “Diddy” Combs attends the 2018 Fox Network Upfront at Wollman Rink, Central Park on May 14, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images)
Trump has said he and Diddy were acquainted before he ran for public office, but their relationship broke down after he did so.
“I was very friendly with him. I got along with him great, and seemed like a nice guy, I didn’t know him well,” Trump told Newsmax in 2025. ‘But when I ran for office, he was very hostile.”
The NYT asked Trump about his intentions of pardoning other high-profile individuals, including captured former Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro, former Democratic New Jersey Sen. Robert Menendez, convicted of taking bribes from Egypt and Qatar, and Sam Bankman-Fried, the cryptocurrency entrepreneur found guilty of stealing billions of dollars. The president indicated he was not considering pardoning those individuals. (RELATED: REPORT: Diddy Narrowly Avoids Having Throat Slashed In Alleged Prison Attack)
When asked about clemency for Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis cop found guilty of murdering George Floyd, Trump said, “I haven’t been asked about it,” according to the NYT.