President Donald Trump said Friday, May 30, he would “look at the facts” before deciding whether to pardon Sean “Diddy” Combs, who is currently facing multiple lawsuits and a sex trafficking and racketeering trial. But rapper Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson says he’s doing everything he can to stop that from happening.
Trump made the comments in the Oval Office while speaking to reporters, referencing his recent pardons of reality TV stars Todd and Julie Chrisley, as well as rapper NBA YoungBoy.
Trump addresses past friendship with Diddy
Trump acknowledged that he and Combs were once close, but said politics may have changed that.
“He used to really like me a lot, but I think when I ran for politics, that relationship busted up,” Trump said. “I don’t know, he didn’t tell me that. But I’d read some … nasty statements in the paper all of a sudden.”
Photos over the years have shown Trump and Combs together at events and parties alongside First Lady Melania Trump and celebrities like Naomi Campbell.
50 Cent uses old quotes against Diddy
In a now-deleted Instagram post, Jackson wrote, “[Combs] said some really bad things about Trump, it’s not OK. I’m gonna reach out so he knows how I feel about this guy.”
A follow-up post shows resurfaced clips of Combs endorsing former President Joe Biden and warning that, “If Trump gets elected, I really do believe there will be a race war.”
50 Cent and Diddy’s history
Jackson and Combs have had a rocky relationship for years. Their feud dates back to at least 2006, when Jackson released the diss track “The Bomb,” including the line: “Who shot Biggie Smalls? We don’t get ‘em / They gonna kill us all. Man, Puffy know who hit that n—a.”
In a 2018 interview with “The Breakfast Club,” Jackson addressed homophobic comments he made related to Combs. “When he says things, he doesn’t even know what he’s saying is, like, fruity,” Jackson said at the time.
Over the years, the two have continued trading jabs online and in interviews.
Diddy’s legal battle continues
Meanwhile, Combs is still facing serious accusations in court. His ongoing trial has reached its fourth week. On Monday, June 2, The Washington Post reported that a former employee testified that Combs sexually assaulted her, but she never reported it to HR, alleging the company would have retaliated against her.
A custodian from the Beverly Hills Hotel also took the stand, testifying that Combs used the alias “Frank Black” to book rooms. The hotel later charged him for damages, including $500 in oil-related cleanup fees.
What’s next in court?
CNN reports that another accuser could testify as early as Wednesday, June 4. With growing pressure and attention on the case, Trump’s decision — if any — could become a bigger flashpoint in both the legal and political arenas.
