As the 2024 Presidential Election nears, Vice President Kamala Harris has been racking up endorsements from celebrities like Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Lopez, George Clooney, Beyoncé and Nicky Jam. But their vocal support for the Democratic ticket has sparked a strange theory from MAGA supporters, who suggest these endorsements are, in part at least, attempts to sidestep any association with disgraced figures like Sean Diddy Combs and the late Jeffrey Epstein. The implication? A Harris administration would allegedly protect them better than her opponent might, in terms of releasing details who was involved.

With this claim circulating, said opponent Donald Trump’s past remarks about Combs are resurfacing, raising questions about where loyalties and friendships truly lie.

Trump’s “love” for Diddy remembered

In a clip from a 2012 episode of The Celebrity Apprentice, Trump offered a heartfelt defense of Combs, saying “I love Diddy,” and calling him “a good guy” and “a good friend.” Trump made these comments after contestant Aubrey O’Day briefly mentioned her experience with Diddy in the girl group Danity Kane, only to skirt around sharing any further thoughts on him.

Trump doubled down when O’Day hesitated, vowing to “stick up” for Combs. Now, with Combs facing serious charges, Trump’s statements are sparking renewed interest and scrutiny. Watch for yourself:

While Trump has not publicly commented on Diddy’s current legal issues, which include sex trafficking charges and a denied bail request, his remarks on The Celebrity Apprentice are being reconsidered in light of the scandal. O’Day, on the other hand, has expressed a mix of dismay and relief over the case, suggesting it might represent a turning point, one she had long hoped for. Diddy’s legal team, meanwhile, has categorically denied the accusations, calling the prosecution “unjust.”

Trump and Epstein: a long-term relationship

Adding complexity, Trump’s connection to Epstein, whose infamous associations included underage parties and troubling connections, has also made more headlines of late. Epstein is said to have Trump in compromising photos with young, topless women, casting further shadows over Trump’s affiliations. For MAGA supporters using celebrity endorsements of Harris as a wedge, the vast amount of evidence surrounding Trump’s associations with Combs and Epstein presents an awkward contradiction. Interestingly, he even wasn‘t sure he’d release the list himself.

Whether any new revelations will surface before or after Tuesday’s election remains to be seen. But as Trump’s 2012 remarks echo back, the former president’s defense of Combs might end up drawing as much attention as any celebrity endorsements this election season.