Jay-Z, the most-nominated artist for this year’s Grammys (airing tonight on CBS beginning at 7:30 EST), and Donald Trump, you know, the president of the United States, are having an argument. On Twitter. Of course.
In a CNN interview on Saturday with Van Jones, Jay-Z commented on the president’s alleged denigration of certain African nations as “sh*thole countries”:
“It is disappointing and it’s hurtful, because it’s looking down at a whole population of people and it’s so misinformed because these places have beautiful people and beautiful everything. This is the leader of the free world speaking like this.”
Trump’s response came in the form of a tweet, as is par for the course.
Somebody please inform Jay-Z that because of my policies, Black Unemployment has just been reported to be at the LOWEST RATE EVER RECORDED!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 28, 2018
While Jay-Z himself didn’t respond, Van Jones tweeted this an hour later:
Someone needs to inform @realdonaldtrump that I ALREADY asked Jay Z whether black employment figures redeem Trump’s presidency. And Jay’s answer last night on the #VanJonesShow was POWERFUL !!! … Watch the VIDEO for yourself: https://t.co/7Sv3rHKkmW https://t.co/jbHpkKOM5o
— Van Jones (@VanJones68) January 28, 2018
In the video clip included in Jones’ tweet, Jay-Z says:
“It’s not about money at the end of the day. Money doesn’t equate to happiness at the end of the day, it doesn’t. That’s missing the whole point. We treat people like human beings, and that’s the point…it goes back to the whole thing of, ‘Treat me really bad but pay me well.’ It’s not gonna lead to happiness.”
Well-said, Jay-Z. The president can talk as much as he wants about this low unemployment figure, but at the end of the day, his words and actions over the course of his presidency (and his life) haven’t suggested a respect for basic human dignity.
Browse Front PageShare Your IdeaComments
Read Elephant’s Best Articles of the Week here.
Readers voted with your hearts, comments, views, and shares:
Click here to see which Writers & Issues Won.
Trump is the most infuriating person ever. What a stupid response. What policies is he even talking about.
Besides the fact it doesn’t have anything to do with what Jay Z was saying.
This is great timely coverage. Thanks you for trying out. I just posted on this in my Insta–not half as well or thoroughly. Great work– ~ Way