Will Sean Diddy get a pardon? President Trump opens up on charges against the rapper
In an interview with Newsmax on Friday night, Trump said, 'He was essentially, I guess, sort of half-innocent.' 'He was celebrating a victory, but I guess it wasn't as good a victory,' he added.
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Combs, 55, was convicted in a New York federal court of two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution for flying people around the country, including his girlfriends and male sex workers, for sexual encounters, while he was acquitted of more serious charges. He could get up to a decade in prison at his sentencing set for Oct. 3.
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According to The Guardian, several media outlets reported that Trump has been weighing a pardon for Combs. He has been seen partying in public and exchanging mutual declarations of friendship ahead of his two presidencies.
Speaking about the music mogul, Trump said, '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.'
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Combs had told The Daily Beast in 2017 that he did not 'really give a f**** about Trump,' according to The Guardian. When Trump's first presidency ended in 2020 following a defeat to Joe Biden, Combs, who is Black told radio host Charlamagne tha God that 'white men like Trump need to be banished.' 'The number one priority is to get Trump out of office,' Combs said.
Sean 'Diddy' Combs asks judge to throw out guilty verdicts or grant him a new trial
Meanwhile, Combs has asked a judge to throw out his guilty verdicts on prostitution-related counts or grant him a new trial, saying such convictions are without precedent. 'This conviction stands alone, but it shouldn't stand at all," the Wednesday filing said.
Combs' lawyers argue that his two felony convictions were a unique misapplication of the federal Mann Act, which bars interstate commerce related to prostitution. 'To our knowledge, Mr. Combs is the only person ever convicted of violating the statute for conduct anything like this,' a Wednesday filing from Combs' legal team said.
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First Post
a few seconds ago
- First Post
Standing tall: Bharat's strategic calm amid Trumpian turbulence
Bharat must stand its ground on tariffs and be prepared for short-term pain in pursuit of long-term strategic gain read more Modi's Bharat has to be both mild and fierce while dealing with the Trumpian turbulence. Image: The White House A bully is an intriguing phenomenon. Powerful, but insecure. Loud, yet hollow. Assertive, but deeply vulnerable. He doesn't merely seek obedience — he craves submission, preferably extracted through intimidation, manipulation, or humiliation. This classic bully syndrome is evident in how Donald Trump has approached his second term as US President, especially in foreign policy. This American trait is becoming more pronounced as 'we are moving into a post-American world, one defined and directed from many places and by many people,' as author Fareed Zakaria writes in his book, The Post-American World. This new world, Zakaria adds, may not be as much about the decline of America as it is about 'the rise of the rest.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Trump's unpredictability, ego-driven decisions, and transactional diplomacy are the result of this changing world order where America is strong, but not strong enough. Trump tries to make up for this by becoming a bully — by holding the world to ransom, as he has done with his ongoing tariff moves. The Bully Syndrome Psychiatrists note that a bully thrives when others submit or appease. The same logic applies in the case of tariffs. Yielding to Trump — or any such figure — is counterproductive. Submission only feeds the bully, inviting more demands and further concessions. That doesn't mean Bharat should react to every Trump tweet or provocation. The goal is not to be reactive but strategic — or even better, strategically proactive. Understand the adversary: When does he lash out? What motivates him? What triggers retreat? Trump's behaviour is largely driven by domestic political compulsions, election cycles, and a simplistic view of trade and tariffs. He may have become the President, but the businessman in him refuses to leave his personality. His worldview remains binary — you're either a winner or a loser, an ally or a foe, a master or a servant. Bharat, with its growing economic heft and independent foreign policy, doesn't fit into his 'ally' column. It doesn't need to. Draw Red Lines, With Poise Bharat's first move should be to clearly set boundaries with poise, not posturing. It must articulate these red lines in an unemotional, matter-of-fact manner. And the Modi government has done precisely that, as the External Affairs Ministry in an official statement on Monday (August 4) called the ongoing Trump tirade 'unjustified and unreasonable.' It also highlighted how the US itself continues to import uranium hexafluoride for its nuclear industry, palladium for its EVs, and fertilisers and chemicals from Russia. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Bharat needs cheap oil for its people and growth. It cannot avoid looking at cheaper options just because it suits American interests. Bharat currently consumes about 5 million barrels per day, 85 per cent of which is met through imports. And given the unprecedented growth expected to take place in the country, with GDP growth constantly hovering above 6 per cent, reports say Bharat's demand for oil will be more than that of any other country in the world. Similarly, the US needs to understand that Bharat's Russian defence ties are born out of necessity, not ideology. America's restrictive terms — high costs, limited tech transfer, source code constraints, and end-use monitoring — have pushed New Delhi towards Moscow. What works for Pakistan, an artificial construct, cannot be imposed on Bharat, a civilisational state with strategic autonomy in its DNA. Ancient Wisdom, Modern Challenges Amid Trumpian turbulence, Ved Vyasa's Mahabharata can offer timeless wisdom, urging restraint and patience, and not being overwhelmed by anger and rage. Bhishma, for instance, advises Yudhisthira in 'Raja Dharma Parva' — as translated by Bibek Debroy in The Mahabharata (Volume 8): 'One must fight for the sake of victory, not because of anger or a desire to kill.' He qualifies his statement by saying that 'if the one who is fighting uses deceit, [one] must fight back using deceit. If he fights with adharma, one must counter with adharma.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Bharat need not match Trump tweet-for-tweet. Instead, it should outmanoeuvre him with strategic steadiness. Timing matters. As Bhishma says, 'Time always brings success… However, a man who is waiting for the right time should not let that moment pass.' Meanwhile, without resorting to verbal volleys or showcasing confrontational postures, Bharat can continue doing what it has been doing thus far — buying Russian arms and importing oil. Let Bharat's actions speak for themselves. Build Strategic Alliances Bhishma also advises Yudhisthira to seek new allies when oppressed by a stronger king. He says, 'If a king is oppressed by a stronger king, he must resort to three kinds of allies and friends.' Bhishma then elaborates allies and friends as 'direct allies, allies of allies, and enemies of enemies'. Time is ripe for Bharat to expand its strategic alliances. It must build strategic coalitions — both traditional and innovative. It must reorient its ties with Europe along the lines of the UK Free Trade Agreement. It must look afresh at Asian, African, and South American markets. Some of the American trade losses can be covered there: Bharat's pharma industry, for instance, could find greater footholds in these markets. Similarly, it should deepen its outreach to Asean, and continue nurturing its neighbourhood through cooperative diplomacy. Even within the American political landscape, Bharat should engage with institutions, think tanks, businesses, and lawmakers — beyond the presidency. America is more than its president. Bharat must remember that. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The goal is not to overtly challenge the Trump administration but to signal that Bharat cannot be bullied and has options. It values the US relationship but will not be boxed in. Learn from the Dragon More importantly, while dealing with Trumpian threats, Bharat should realise — and also make the Americans realise — that it has weathered greater storms in the past. It navigated alone during the Cold War, defied American fury at the time of the 1971 Bangladesh crisis, endured global isolation after the 1998 nuclear tests, and emerged stronger every time. Today's Bharat is economically sounder, militarily stronger, and diplomatically assertive. It must preserve its strategic autonomy — not for defiance, but for national interest. If Trump is unreasonable, Bharat must stand its ground — calmly, firmly. China offers an instructive example. Trump began his second term with moves to tame the Middle Kingdom. But Beijing responded with resilience, recalibration, and countermeasures. It didn't react emotionally, and eventually, the US President softened. Not out of admiration, but because confrontation wasn't delivering. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Likewise, Bharat must insist on mutual solutions. If Washington wants Delhi to move away from Russian arms, it must offer better terms. If it wants to be an energy partner, it must offer affordable, stable alternatives — without coercion. Be Mild and Fierce Bharat's strength lies not just in GDP or missiles, but in civilisational confidence. Bullies lose power when met with quiet defiance. Bharat's message should be simple: 'We value the relationship, but we are equals. We act in our interest and expect respect.' Americans, as a people, are pragmatic. Once the noise settles, they will see that Bharat's rise is a stabilising phenomenon, not a threatening one. It seeks balance, not dominance. It avoids conflict but is unafraid of it when required. The Trumpian storm must be faced with civilisational calmness and confidence — not by shouting, but by outthinking. Not by trembling, but by standing tall. Bharat must be prepared for short-term pain in pursuit of long-term strategic gain. Because in the end, the one who doesn't bend under pressure shapes the course of history. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Bhishma again has a word of advice: 'People disrespect one who is mild and hate one who is fierce. Do not be mild. Do not be fierce. Be both mild and fierce.' Modi's Bharat has to be both mild and fierce while dealing with the Trumpian turbulence. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstpost's views.
Mint
a few seconds ago
- Mint
Trump's U-turn: After accusing Zelensky of ‘starting war', how US is using Ukraine to justify tariff on ‘friend' India
The day was February 28, 2025 and the White House prepared to welcome Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for a meeting with President Donald Trump in the Oval Office. When the two leaders met, they shook hands and politely discussed diplomatic matters among other things. Minutes later, the meeting turned into a shouting match between Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance and Volodymyr Zelensky after the Ukrainian president emphasised the need for 'security guarantees for Ukraine' for any deal to happen. That started the clash, with the United States accusing Ukraine of being ungrateful for American support and of 'stalling' peace talks with Russia – warning, 'You're either going to make a deal, or we're out.' 'You see the hatred he's got for [Russian President Vladimir] Putin. That's tough to make a deal with that kind of hate,' Trump said as the whole world watched on LIVE television. Accused of 'starting the war', Zelensky left and the deal, that would have given the US rights to rare earth minerals in Ukraine, was not signed that day. Cut to July 2025 – Ukraine has now become the flashpoint in Donald Trump's trade war with India. In a stunning shift, Donald Trump, who once pointed the finger at Zelensky for starting the Russia-Ukraine war, has now trained his guns on India – imposing 25 per cent tariffs and additional penalties for New Delhi's business ties with Moscow, accusing New Delhi of bankrolling Vladimir Putin's war machine by buying Russian oil. Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump have spoken over the phone, but not met since Trump returned to the White House in January, despite both leaders expressing their desire for face-to-face talks. After one of the calls that happened in May, the US president said his call with Vladimir Putin went very well and that Moscow and Kyiv 'will immediately start negotiations' toward a ceasefire and end to the war. As Trump sounded hopeful, the Russian president said more 'compromises' were needed. By the end of the month, Trump – sensing no end to the Ukraine war – had started threatening sanctions on Russian products, warning Vladimir Putin that he was 'playing with fire'. Trump even admitted that Putin was not looking to stop Russia's war against Ukraine. 'I'm very disappointed with the conversation I had today with President Putin, because I don't think he's there, and I'm very disappointed. I'm just saying I don't think he's looking to stop, and that's too bad,' he said. Donald Trump has often portrayed himself as a dealmaker and global peacemaker, but as Russia refused to fall in line with his expectations, the US president began to show signs of frustration. Buoyed by his own expectations and frustrated over not being able to bring the Ukraine conflict to an end, Trump shifted blame outward. He slapped 25 per cent tariffs on Indian goods and announced additional penalties for India's business ties with Russia. But Trump didn't stop there. He threatened even more tariffs for India's purchase of Russian oil, accusing the country of 'fueling' the Ukraine war. What could be called a striking twist, Ukraine, a country Trump had once accused of 'starting the war,' is now at the centre of his trade war with India, which he has used as a geopolitical weapon to justify the tariffs on 'friend' India.
New Indian Express
a few seconds ago
- New Indian Express
As Trump pressures China and India to stop Russian oil imports, who's buying the most?
US President Donald Trump is pushing China and India to stop buying oil from Russia and helping fund the Kremlin's war against Ukraine. Trump is raising the issue as he seeks to press Russian President Vladimir Putin to agree to a ceasefire. But cheap Russian oil benefits refiners in those countries as well as meeting their needs for energy, and they're not showing any inclination to halt the practice. Three countries are big buyers of Russian oil China, India and Turkey are the biggest recipients of oil that used to go to the European Union. The EU's decision to boycott most Russian seaborne oil from January 2023 led to a massive shift in crude flows from Europe to Asia. Since then, China has been the No. 1 overall purchaser of Russian energy since the EU boycott, with some $219.5 billion worth of Russian oil, gas and coal, followed by India with $133.4 billion and Turkey with $90.3 billion. Before the invasion, India imported relatively little Russian oil. Hungary imports some Russian oil through a pipeline. Hungary is an EU member, but President Viktor Orban has been critical of sanctions against Russia. The lure of cheaper oil One big reason: It's cheap. Since Russian oil trades at a lower price than international benchmark Brent, refineries can fatten their profit margins when they turn crude into usable products such as diesel fuel. Russia's oil earnings are substantial despite sanctions The Kyiv School of Economics says Russia took in $12.6 billion from oil sales in June. Russia continues to earn substantial sums even as the Group of Seven leading industrialized nations has tried to limit Russia's take by imposing an oil price cap. The cap is to be enforced by requiring shipping and insurance companies to refuse to handle oil shipments above the cap. Russia has, to a great extent, been able to evade the cap by shipping oil on a 'shadow fleet' of old vessels using insurers and trading companies located in countries that are not enforcing sanctions. Russian oil exporters are predicted to take in $153 billion this year, according to the Kyiv institute. Fossil fuels are the single largest source of budget revenue. The imports support Russia's ruble currency and help Russia to buy goods from other countries, including weapons and parts for them.
