Former Swedish Prime Minister Carl Bildt criticized President Trump for his comments about jailed American rapper A$AP Rocky.
The response came after Trump tweeted dissatisfaction with the fact that Swedish prosecutors decided to charge the 30-year-old with assault. The rapper has been jailed in Sweden since a July 2 street fight.
The 70-year-old Bildt, who served as prime minister from 1991 to 1994, took to Twitter Friday to condemn Trump. He decried “political interference” and alluded to Trump obstructing justice.
“The rule of the law applies to everyone equally and is exercised by an independent judiciary. That’s the way it is in the US, and that’s certainly the way it is in Sweden. Political interference in the process is distinctly off limits! Clear?” Bildt said.
The rule of the law applies to everyone equally and is exercised by an independent judiciary. That’s the way it is in the US, and that’s certainly the way it is in Sweden. Political interference in the process is distinctly off limits! Clear? https://t.co/8iTc9Y0df3
— Carl Bildt (@carlbildt) July 26, 2019
“If @realDonaldTrump tries to obstruct justice in his own country he will be in deep trouble with the very principles of the US constitution,” he added.
If @realDonaldTrump tries to obstruct justice in his own country he will be in deep trouble with the very principles of the US constitution. https://t.co/hN8TH9yXDh
— Carl Bildt (@carlbildt) July 26, 2019
Trump has taken up A$AP Rocky’s side after being lobbied by celebrities such as Kanye West and Kim Kardashian West. Trump said many members of the African American community had called him and asked for him to assist, claiming the artist, whose birth name is Rakim Mayers, is being held unjustly and was merely acting in self-defense.
“I personally don’t know A$AP Rocky, but I can tell you that he has tremendous support from the African American community in this country,” Trump told reporters in the White House last week. “And when I say African American, I think I can really say from everybody in this country, because we’re all one.”
Trump also called current Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Löfven and said he would “personally vouch” for the Grammy-nominated artist’s bail.
A$AP Rocky’s defense lawyer, Slobodan Jovicic, said that the rapper, known for his hits like L$D, Wild for the Night, and F–kin’ Problems, was not doing well in Swedish jail.
“There’s been a lot of support from a lot of different people, and Rakim Mayers is of course very thankful for everybody that has reached out,” Jovicic said. “It’s been a very hard time for him.”
[Opinion: Why Trump’s fight to free A$AP Rocky should unite America]
