Trump Says Diddy Became ‘Hostile’ After His Presidency

Donald Trump is back at it again when it comes to how he could help Sean “Diddy” Combs’ case. In a new interview, he was asked whether he would be considering a presidential pardon for Combs in light of his recent conviction. This was posted on the social media site X (formerly known as Twitter) on Friday, August 1, as part of the interview Trump did on Newsmax’s Finnerty.

The founder of Bad Boy Records, Combs, was convicted in early July on a single federal count, transportation with the intent to engage in prostitution. He was acquitted of the more serious charges against him of sex trafficking and racketeering. The trial went on for more than seven weeks and saw both testimony and drama. This included former girlfriend and singer Cassie Ventura, who alleged that the rapper abused and trafficked her when they dated years ago. Combs has denied the claims and says he is innocent.

Trump, in the Newsmax interview, would not give a direct answer to a question on whether he would pardon Combs. “Well, he was essentially, I guess, sort of half-innocent,” Trump said. “He’s still in jail or something, but he was celebrating a victory. But I guess it wasn’t as good a victory.”

Trump also made it sound like he and Combs were once really tight at one point in time, but something changed. “We were very friendly. I got along with him great,” he said. But after that, something was said that “kind of changed.” He said that changed when Trump became involved in politics. “He used to like me a lot. I think when I ran for politics, that relationship busted up. … I would certainly look at the facts. If I think somebody was mistreated, whether they like me or don’t like me, it wouldn’t have any impact on me.”

Pardon in Question

Trump has brought up Combs’ case before when discussing pardons in an earlier press conference in May. In the White House’s Oval Office, Trump was asked the same question by Fox News reporter Peter Doocy. At that time, he answered that he would be looking at the situation, including all of the facts, to come to a decision. It was also made clear that whether or not Combs liked him would not have an impact on his decision.

“I haven’t spoken to him in years,” Trump told Doocy. He also made clear that, despite the past connection, he would decide based on the circumstances, which have included a lot of testimony about his alleged actions. “If I think somebody was mistreated, whether they like me or don’t like me, it wouldn’t have any impact on me.”

Sean Combs’ trials and tribulations with the law are ongoing. He was just recently found guilty in July of a single federal charge of “transportation with the intent to engage in prostitution,” as court documents state. However, this is a part of a larger federal probe, which resulted in him being cleared of the two other, more serious charges: sex trafficking and racketeering. This is not over for Combs, who could get up to 20 years on his one charge if he is sentenced to the maximum penalty. This is set to happen on October 3.

Trump’s involvement as president is one of many issues surrounding the case, as the politics of clemency come into play. This is also being discussed in the hip-hop community, as it includes a legal battle that has been closely watched over the last several months. Trump was more willing to talk about the issue, as he seemed to want to hint that Combs could get a break.

“He was celebrating a victory,” Trump said in the Newsmax interview. “But I guess it wasn’t as good o victory.”

A complete clip of Trump’s answer to Finnerty can be found in the video on X. With both October on the horizon for sentencing and November for the presidential election, plenty of people are wondering if Trump will do what he has been saying. That would be a pardon for Combs. We will have to wait and see.