White House Denies Claims Trump Plans to Free Diddy as Rapper Serves Four-Year Prison Term

(UPDATED) -- Sean 'Diddy' Combs, the Grammy-winning rapper and music mogul, remains in federal custody after being sentenced to four years and two months in a United States prison. The 55-year-old was convicted in July 2025 on two counts of transporting individuals across state lines for prostitution.

Recent reports claimed that President Donald Trump was privately considering commuting Diddy's sentence, a move that instantly ignited fierce debate across political and entertainment circles.

However, the White House has now issued a categorical denial, calling the reports 'completely fraudulent' and insisting there is 'zero truth' to suggestions that Trump is weighing clemency for the embattled music star.

Inside the Conviction and Sentencing

Diddy, whose real name is Sean Combs, was found guilty under the Mann Act but acquitted of more serious racketeering and sex trafficking charges.

The case, heard in the Southern District Court of New York, concluded with Judge Arun Subramanian sentencing him to 50 months in federal prison and imposing a fine of $500,000 (£373,334). The judge said the sentence was necessary to 'deter similar conduct and reinforce the rule of law'.

Prosecutors presented evidence of interstate travel linked to prostitution-related activities, though they failed to prove the existence of an organised trafficking network. The verdict marked one of the most high-profile celebrity convictions of 2025.

Combs, who had already spent more than a year in pretrial detention, has been credited with time served. He remains at a federal correctional facility while awaiting the outcome of his appeal, which his legal team filed on 20 October 2025.

The White House Denies Commutation Reports

Speculation about a possible pardon began after media reports claimed Trump was 'vacillating' on whether to follow his commutation of former Congressman George Santos with a similar act of clemency for Combs.

Some outlets suggested that White House aides were divided, with a few advisers urging leniency as a 'redemption gesture', while others warned it could spark accusations of political favouritism.

But when reached for comment, a White House spokesperson told reporters the story was false. 'There is zero truth to the TMZ report, which we would've gladly explained had they reached out before running their fake news,' the spokesperson was quoted in a Daily Mail report. 'The president, not anonymous sources, is the final decider on pardons and commutations.'

Trump himself has previously spoken about Combs in interviews, calling him 'essentially, sort of, half innocent' after his acquittal on the more serious charges. However, he also said in August that a pardon was 'more likely a no', suggesting only that the situation was 'interesting'.

Reaction and Fallout

Combs's legal team continues to assert his innocence and says the appeal will focus on the misuse of the Mann Act, which they argue is a relic of an earlier era rarely applied in modern prosecutions. His attorney described the case as 'an overreach of federal authority' and vowed to fight the conviction.

Meanwhile, victims' advocates and supporters of Combs's former partner, Cassie Ventura, have criticised any talk of clemency, arguing that it would undermine accountability for powerful men accused of abuse. Ventura, who testified during the trial, called Combs 'the manipulator, the aggressor, the abuser, the trafficker', saying she does not believe he will ever change.

The Bigger Picture

Combs's imprisonment and the swirl of political speculation have cast a long shadow over his career and business empire. His label, Love Records, has paused upcoming releases, and several brand partnerships remain suspended.

Analysts say the controversy underscores the uneasy intersection of fame, power, and justice and the risks that come when politics enters the courtroom.

For now, Sean 'Diddy' Combs remains behind bars, credited with roughly 13 months served, as his appeal moves forward. And despite the rumour mill, the White House's firm denial appears to have closed the door, at least for now, on any prospect of a Trump pardon.