NEWS
US President Donald Trump has said it would be “difficult” to pardon Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs as he was “very hostile” towards him.
The rapper and music mogul was found guilty on two counts of transportation for engaging in prostitution, but was acquitted of racketeering and sex trafficking in July. He pleaded not guilty to all five charges.
Combs is currently awaiting sentencing at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, New York, where he has been held since his arrest in September last year. Last week (July 29), he asked a judge to release him on a $50million (£37.4million) bond as he waits to be sentenced in October.
In June, Trump said that he would look into a potential pardon for Combs, and that he would “certainly look at the facts”.
Now, though, he’s weighed in again, calling Combs “half-innocent” and saying it’s “more likely a no” that he would be pardoned.
“Well, he was essentially, I guess, sort of half-innocent,” Trump told Newsmax host Rob Finnerty on Friday (August 1). “[He’s] still in jail or something, but he was celebrating a victory. But I guess it wasn’t as good of a victory.”
Trump went on to recall that he was “very friendly with him. I got along with him great, and [he] seemed like a nice guy. I didn’t know him well. But when I ran for office, he was very hostile. It’s hard, you know? We’re human beings. And we don’t like to have things cloud our judgment, right? But when you knew someone and you were fine, and then you run for office, and he made some terrible statements. So I don’t know …. it makes it more difficult to do.”
It echoes comments he made in May, when he said about Combs: “I haven’t seen him, I haven’t spoken to him in years. He used to really like me a lot, but I think when I ran for politics, that relationship busted up. I read some little bit nasty statements in the paper all of a sudden.”
Referring to a possible pardon, Trump added at the time: “I would certainly look at the facts. If I think somebody is mistreated, whether they like me or don’t like me, it wouldn’t have any impact on me.”
The US President and rapper were once on good terms, with Trump attending a number of Combs’ VIP parties and events in New York City, and calling the rapper “a good friend” during a 2012 episode of The Apprentice, while Combs called Trump “a friend of mine” in 2015, shortly after Trump launched his first campaign.
But when asked about Trump in 2017, Combs told the Daily Beast, “I think that to be honest, we don’t really give a fuck about Trump, because [black people are] in the same fucked-up position. So that’s not what we’re on.”
Then, speaking to Charlamagne tha God in 2020, Combs said, “White men like Trump need to be banished. That way of thinking is real dangerous. This man literally threatened the lives of us and our families about going to vote … The number one priority is to get Trump out of office.”
Combs faces a maximum sentence of 20 years behind bars on the two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution. However, he could receive less than this because it is a first-time conviction.
For help, advice or more information regarding sexual harassment, assault and rape in the UK, visit the Rape Crisis charity website. In the US, visit RAINN.
Miley Cyrus has joined a new record label following her departure from Sony Music’s Columbia Records.
The 33 year old singer and songwriter has agreed to a fresh deal with Atlantic Records, the company officially announced.
The label shared the news on its official Instagram account, writing: "Welcome to the family @mileycyrus [white heart emoji]"
Miley joins an impressive Atlantic Records roster that includes Coldplay, Ed Sheeran, Charli XCX, Bruno Mars, Cardi B, Rosé, PinkPantheress, and Lizzo.
The Hannah Montana star launched her recording career at Disney’s Hollywood Records, where she released three albums, before putting out another four records through RCA.
She later signed with Columbia Records in 2021.
Celebrating the agreement at the time, Miley uploaded a photo of herself holding the contract and wrote on her Instagram Story: "WHEN IM NOT RUNNING GAME. IM RUNNING MY MF BUSINESS. LET’S RIDE. (sic)"
During her time with the company, Miley released two albums, Endless Summer Vacation and Something Beautiful.
Only a few days before Something Beautiful arrived on May 30th, 2025, Miley revealed that her next project would take a much more "extremely experimental" direction.
According to Rolling Stone magazine, she offered fans a preview of her future plans during an event at the Chateau Marmont hotel in Hollywood.
Speaking to the intimate audience, she said: "My next album is about to be extremely experimental, so have fun with that.
"Something Beautiful is just the appetizer."
Following the release of the title track Something Beautiful, Miley suggested the project represented "another bold artistic evolution" in her musical journey.
A message posted to her Instagram account stated: "Miley’s second song and video release ‘Something Beautiful’, the title track off of the forthcoming album explores her deep connection to fashion showcasing an original custom design by Casey Cadwallader for the House of Mugler in the visual.
"This era marks another bold artistic evolution for Miley, blending music and film into an immersive experience."
Miley had earlier revealed that Pink Floyd’s The Wall helped shape the inspiration behind the album.
Speaking with Harper's Bazaar, she explained: "My idea was making The Wall, but with a better wardrobe and more glamorous and filled with pop culture.
"It’s a concept album that’s an attempt to medicate somewhat of a sick culture through music.
"I would like to be a human psychedelic for people. I don’t want anyone trying to be like me or imitate me or even be inspired by me. I want to impact frequencies in your body that make you vibrate at a different level."
