U.S President Donald Trump, has confirmed that embattled music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs personally reached out to him seeking a presidential pardon, but the request has been firmly rejected.
In a wide-ranging interview with The New York Times published on Thursday, January 8, 2026, Trump disclosed that Combs wrote to him directly, asking for clemency.
Trump said he was willing to show the letter but ultimately declined, making it clear that despite their past social relationship, a pardon was not under consideration.
The decision brings an end to months of speculation over whether Combs’ former ties to Trump could influence his legal fate.
The 56-year-old Bad Boy Records founder is currently serving a 50-month federal prison sentence at FCI Fort Dix in New Jersey after being convicted in July 2025 on two counts of transporting individuals across state lines for prostitution.
Although Combs was acquitted of more serious charges, including sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy, his legal team had remained hopeful that presidential intervention might be possible.
Trump addressed the personal history behind the request, explaining that while he and Combs were once on friendly terms, their relationship deteriorated when he launched his first presidential campaign in 2015.
According to Trump, Combs became openly hostile during that period and made what he described as “terrible statements,” adding that such history makes the prospect of a pardon far more difficult.
The revelation comes amid continued scrutiny of the Trump administration’s approach to presidential pardons.
In the same interview, Trump indicated he has no plans to extend clemency to several other high-profile figures currently facing serious legal consequences.
This stance comes despite the fact that he has issued more than 1,500 pardons since taking office on January 20, 2025, many of which were related to the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack.
With a presidential pardon now ruled out, Combs is expected to serve the remainder of his sentence, with a projected release date in May 2028.
His legal team is pursuing an expedited appeal, with oral arguments tentatively scheduled for April 2026, though legal analysts say overturning the prostitution-related convictions will be challenging.
