Jim Jones isn’t here for the backlash against rappers showing up at the White House—no matter who’s in office. In a recent interview, the Harlem veteran defended artists who have met with Donald Trump, saying that politics aside, the president of the United States still deserves a certain level of respect.
“So what do they expect us to do, disrespect the president because that person didn’t win?” Jones questioned. “No. He’s still the president of the United States, so we still have to show that much respect… I’m not political and s**t like that. I didn’t vote for anybody, you heard? If I was to get an invitation, no matter who was in the office, nine times out of ten, I think I’ma pop out to go to the White House.”
His stance has sparked conversation online, with some agreeing that meeting a sitting president is an opportunity beyond politics, while others feel that associating with Trump—who has a complicated history with hip-hop and the Black community—is a questionable move.
Whether you see it as respect or a misstep, Jim Jones is making it clear that, for him, an invite to the White House is just that—an invite. What do you think?
