Trump Says He Once ‘Got Along Great’ With Diddy

It looks like Donald Trump is back to being dragged for things he is saying about rapper Sean “Diddy” Combs once again. Trump was recently asked if he would consider pardoning Diddy after his recent conviction last month, and the former president’s response was as muddy as they come.

On Friday, August 1, Trump appeared on Newsmax’s Finnerty and was asked by co-host Donn Finnerty if he would entertain the idea of pardoning Sean Combs. The founder of Bad Boy Records was sentenced last month on one federal charge of transportation with the intent to engage in prostitution, though the jury cleared him of sex trafficking and racketeering.

The case against Combs, which lasted over seven weeks of testimonies and media frenzy, involved accusations of sex trafficking from singer Cassie Ventura. Combs and Ventura were in a relationship many years ago, and Ventura alleged that she was a victim of abuse and trafficking by Combs throughout their years together.

However, Combs has denied all the claims and stands by his innocence to this day. The former president was then asked about his thoughts on whether he would pardon Diddy or not, to which he mumbled back in what could’ve been an answer.

“Well, he was essentially, I guess, sort of half-innocent,” he began. “He was celebrating a victory. But I guess it wasn’t as good a victory.” After Trump’s response, he went back to the fact that Sean was one of his “best friends for a long time.”

“I got along with him great. We were very friendly. He used to like me a lot. I think when I ran for politics, that relationship busted up,” the former president added. “And if I think it’s something, I would 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.”

Will Trump Be Able to Look at the Facts of Diddy’s Case?

When Trump first hinted at possibly pardoning Combs was in May. During an impromptu press briefing in the Oval Office, the former president was asked if he would consider a pardon for the rapper by Fox News reporter Peter Doocy. At the time, Trump had the same answer: he would “look at the facts” to see if Diddy deserved a pardon.

“I haven’t spoken to him in years,” Trump said. “If I think somebody was mistreated, whether they like me or don’t like me, it wouldn’t have any impact on me.”

Combs’ past continues to come back to haunt him, especially with the legal matters he’s faced recently. Last month, the charges involved one federal count of transportation with the intent to engage in prostitution, while he was acquitted of sex trafficking and racketeering.

Though he was freed from the two charges that carry more weight than the one he was convicted of, he will still have to serve time for the other, lesser charge. He has until October 3 to be sentenced, and if that day comes, Combs could be looking at a 20-year sentence.

Political pundits, hip-hop aficionados, and criminal attorneys alike have started to chip in on what could be the sentencing results. For now, the ex-president and rapper’s long past friendship might be one of the more interesting angles.