“So a few drug addicts are not my fans, we don’t know these guys and we didn’t want trouble, they followed us for 4 blocks, and they were slapping girls butts who passed, give me a break …”
This was the caption posted to Instagram a few weeks ago by rapper A$AP Rocky, after he tried to calm down an inflammatory situation, but eventually wound up in a street fight with several suspicious men while in Sweden.
On June 30, TMZ reported on the street fight, while several days later, on July 3, the Associated Press said the rapper had been “detained [in Sweden] for a suspected attack on an unknown person.” Since A$AP Rocky’s arrest, politicians and fellow music artists alike have lobbied for the release of their friend.
Supporters insist that he only acted in self-defense, and took steps to defuse the situation. They also maintain that the conditions of A$AP Rocky’s detention are unacceptable.
The most notable and shocking person making the case for his release is President Trump. On July 19, Trump tweeted, “Just spoke to @KanyeWest about his friend A$AP Rocky’s incarceration. I will be calling the very talented Prime Minister of Sweden to see what we can do about helping A$AP Rocky. So many people would like to see this quickly resolved!”
Just spoke to @KanyeWest about his friend A$AP Rocky’s incarceration. I will be calling the very talented Prime Minister of Sweden to see what we can do about helping A$AP Rocky. So many people would like to see this quickly resolved!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump)
July 19, 2019
Both rapper Kanye West and celebrity Kim Kardashian-West have commended the president for his advocacy for their friend’s release. Kardashian-West even took to social media to thank Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and presidential advisor Jared Kushner.
Kardashian-West tweeted, “Thank you @realDonaldTrump , @SecPompeo, and Jared Kushner & everyone involved with the efforts to Free ASAP Rocky & his two friends. Your commitment to justice reform is so appreciated …”
First lady Melania Trump, who usually doesn’t get too involved in the news cycle, apparently sought her husband’s involvement on this issue, advocating on A$AP Rocky’s behalf.
When answering reporters’ questions, President Trump said, “Actually the one who knew about A$AP Rocky was our first lady … She was telling me, ‘Can you help A$AP Rocky? Do you want to give them a little statement on that?’”
Other political figures, such as Reps. Adriano Espaillat, D-N.Y., Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., André Carson, D-Ind., and Joaquin Castro, D-Texas, have made efforts to advocate for A$AP Rocky’s release and put a stop to the “inhumane conditions” of his treatment while incarcerated in Sweden.
This is all to say, that the current administration, including the first lady, Republicans, Democrats, celebrities, and fans alike all are fighting for the release of one American rapper. It’s clear this is no longer about politics, but rather about a human life.
After weeks of President Trump being called racist in the media, there is no room for that label in this instance, as it would appear clearly false to onlookers watching him fight for an African American’s freedom.
Fans of A$AP Rocky, West, and Kardashian-West have no room to judge or criticize the president in this instance, in fact they should give him credit for assisting their idols. Even Democrats cannot touch the subject in a negative light or criticize the president for his stance here. A$AP Rocky’s arrest has united the American people, even if only for a few hours.
The politics of A$AP Rocky’s music are far from conservative, and he probably won’t even vote for Trump in 2020. But everyone will know that Trump, if he accomplishes this task and frees an innocent American, will deserve some degree of respect and gratitude.
And, behind this, America can unite.
It’s about time, too. In the current political climate, we’ve needed an issue that everyone can stand behind. Although the unexpected and uncalled for arrest of a popular rapper is nothing to desire, it has become the very uniting factor this country needs.
It is these small victories, amid frightening circumstances, where we can remember that in the end, we are all Americans and there is always a front where we can unite as a country. We must care for one another first, and care about politics and partisanship second.
Who would have thought the one to unite our country in this tumultuous time would be a 30-year-old rapper with a dollar sign in his name? But if that’s what it takes, so be it.
Isabella S. Redjai is a student at Hillsdale College and an editor at the Hillsdale Collegian.
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