With A$AP Rocky‘s detention in Sweden entering a third week, President Donald Trump has been briefed on Rocky’s situation and spoke for the first time about his arrest publicly on Friday afternoon (July 19) at the White House. Trump says conversations with Sweden have started about bringing the Harlem native home and that first lady Melania was actually the one to bring the matter to his attention.
“A$AP Rocky is a situation in Sweden, a great country, and friends of mine and the leadership. And we’re going to be talking to them, we’ve already started,” Trump stated. “Many members of the African-American community have called me, friends of mine, and said can you help? I personally don’t know A$AP Rocky, but I can tell you he has tremendous support from the African-American community in this country. When I say African-American, I think I can really say from everybody in this country because we’re all one. I have been called by so many people asking me to help A$AP Rocky.”
The president would go on to let Melania Trump take the floor briefly since she was the one that informed him about what was going on with Rocky in Sweden. “We’re working with the State Department and we hope to get him home soon,” she said. It was reported by TMZ on Thursday (July 18) that Kanye West and Kim Kardashian were diligently working their White House connections to help jump-start the movement to free A$AP.
“Thank you @realDonaldTrump , @SecPompeo, Jared Kushner & everyone involved with the efforts to Free ASAP Rocky & his two friends. Your commitment to justice reform is so appreciated,” Kardashian tweeted.
Following his Friday (July 19) presser, Trump tweeted out that he spoke to Kanye West personally about expediting the process to help Rocky. “Just spoke to @KanyeWest about his friend A$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,” he wrote.
Swedish officials ruled on Friday that they would hold Rocky for another six days to continue the investigation after deeming him a flight risk, according to The New York Times. His next shot at a potential release timeline will be during a July 25 hearing, says Swedish Prosecution Authority.
Check out Trump’s comments on Rocky below.
Pres. Trump on ASAP Rocky’s case: “I personally don’t know ASAP Rocky, but I can tell you that he has tremendous support. from the African-American community .. and when when I say African-American, I really can really say from everybody in this country because we are all one” pic.twitter.com/D95q2ZMGBc
— ABC News Politics (@ABCPolitics) July 19, 2019