President Trump said Friday he is trying to help rapper A$AP Rocky, who’s been detained in Sweden.
The president said he doesn’t know the artist personally, but received calls of “tremendous” support from the African-American community.
“When I say African-American, I think I can really say from everybody in this country, because we’re all one,” Mr. Trump said from the White House’s Oval Office. “I have been called by so many people asking me to help A$AP Rocky.”
Mr. Trump said first lady Melania Trump alerted him to the rapper’s ordeal.
“We’re working with the State Department, and we hope to get him home soon,” Mrs. Trump said.
The rapper, whose real name is Rakim Mayers, is being detained in Sweden on a preliminary charge of assault, according to The New York Times.
He’s accused of assaulting a man in Stockholm, after TMZ and other outlets published videos that appear to show him throwing another man to the ground, before his associates then kick and punch the man on the ground.
The rapper says they acted in self-defense. He posted an Instagram video that shows his entourage telling two men to walk away and leave them alone, adding they don’t want to fight.
Mr. Trump said Kanye West, the world-famous rapper who visited the Oval Office last year, also urged him to intervene.
“I will be calling the very talented Prime Minister of Sweden to see what we can do about helping A$AP Rocky,” Mr. Trump tweeted on his way to his New Jersey golf club. “So many people would like to see this quickly resolved!”
• Tom Howell Jr. can be reached at thowell@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.