Trump shuts down Diddy's commutation request leaked by 'White House insider'

The White House is denying reports that Trump is “considering” commuting Diddy’s sentence sometime this week.

On Monday, October 20, TMZ cited a “White House official” saying that Donald Trump is "vacillating” over the [Diddy] decision” despite pushback from some White House staff. If the US President decides to go through with it, the disgraced hip-hop mogul will avoid four years in jail.

“There is zero truth to the TMZ report, which we would’ve gladly explained had they reached out before running their fake news,” a White House spokesperson told the Daily Mail, firmly shutting down the reports. “The president, not anonymous sources, is the final decider on pardons and commutations.”

Sean “Diddy” Combs was sentenced to 50 months in prison earlier this month on October 3 after being found guilty on two federal charges of transportation to engage in prostitution but cleared of three other counts, including sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy.

The Bad Boy Records founder — who has been in prison since his September 2024 arrest — was fined $500,000, and ordered to serve five years of supervised release following his term.

Rumours immediately began swirling that Combs’ legal team was in touch with a high-ranking White House official. Days later, Trump confirmed to reporters inside the White House that Diddy — or “Puff Daddy” as he calls him — had indeed requested a federal pardon.

Trump has recently granted presidential pardons to former US Congressman George Santos and reality stars Todd and Julie Chrisley.

Speaking to Newsmax back in August, the President said it was “more likely a no” for Combs, but noted that the rapper “was essentially, sort of, half-innocent.”

And even though Combs endorsed Joe Biden over Trump in 2020, Trump recalls their relationship in a positive light. “I was very friendly with him, get along with him great, seemed like a nice guy, didn’t know him well.”