‘He got some favors with the government’: Diddy’s trial has barely begun but fears that Trump’s going to ‘pardon him’ are already here

In a recent interview with NewsNation, Suge Knight, the notorious former CEO of Death Row Records, weighed in on Sean “Diddy” Combs’ ongoing federal trial. Knight suggested that President Donald Trump might pardon Diddy if convicted.

Speaking with NewsNation’s Chris Cuomo on CUOMO, Knight said, “I think he got some favors with the government. I think they’re going to show him a little leeway. It might not seem like it when it’s all said and done, but I don’t think he had nothing to worry about. I don’t think he’s worried, because he’s going to be federal. And if he gets convicted, Trump’s going to pardon him.” 

It’s all about “what’s in it for the long run.”

Supporting Knight’s claim, at the end of his first term, Trump granted clemency to Michael “Harry-O” Harris, co-founder of Death Row Records. Trump commuted his 25-to-life sentence after 30 years served for drug trafficking and attempted murder.

Knight told Cuomo, “They don’t care about that,” meaning Diddy’s allegation and a potential Trump pardon. “It’s all about, you know, what’s in it for the long run.”

Diddy’s trial, which began in May 2025, has been explosive. He faces multiple charges, including sex trafficking and racketeering. Those charges stem from allegations Diddy orchestrated “freak off” sex parties involving drugs and coercion. Early on, the jury heard harrowing testimony from Cassie Ventura, Diddy’s ex-girlfriend. She detailed the abuse she endured, including being forced to call him “Pop Pop” and participate in other disturbing acts.

Knight knows the legal system

Knight’s legal troubles are well-documented. In 2018, a jury sentenced Knight to 28 years in prison for voluntary manslaughter after a fatal hit-and-run incident. The incident happened outside a Compton burger stand, where Knight ran over two men, killing one. California’s three-strikes law influenced Knight’s sentence due to his prior convictions. 

The relationship between Knight and Diddy has been fraught with tension since the 1990s. At that time, there was an infamous East Coast–West Coast hip-hop rivalry. Knight’s Death Row Records and Diddy’s Bad Boy Records were at the center of the feud, culminating in the deaths of Tupac Shakur and The Notorious B.I.G. 

Knight’s recent comments about a potential Trump pardon for Diddy may be speculative, but they underscore the complex interplay of power, politics, and celebrity in this high-profile trial. As the proceedings continue, the public remains captivated by the revelations and the possibility of further twists in this already convoluted saga.