Trump Weighs Possible Pardon for Diddy but Says Decision Not Made

President Donald Trump says he might consider using the power of a presidential pardon to help music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs if Diddy is found guilty in his ongoing federal trial. Speaking to reporters on Friday, Trump said he has not spoken with Diddy “in years” and admitted he is “not watching the trial too closely.”

Even so, Trump noted that “some people have been very close to asking” him for a pardon. When asked if he would grant it, he replied that he would first review the facts. “If I think somebody was mistreated, whether they like me or don’t like me, it would not affect my choice,” he said.

Trump and Diddy were friendly in the early 2000s, and Diddy once praised Trump on social media. Their relationship grew apart when Trump entered politics. Despite the distance, Trump has a history of granting clemency to well-known figures. During his term, he pardoned or commuted sentences for artists like Lil Wayne and Kodak Black as well as several business leaders.

For now, Diddy’s legal team is focused on the courtroom, where he faces charges that could bring a life sentence if he is convicted.