Jay-Z and President Obama are friends. The rapper donated, appeared live on the campaign stage, and made more than a couple of trips to the White House. On occasion, the BBC reports, the 44th president was even known to blast “The Blueprint” in the Oval Office.
It would come as no surprise then that Jay-Z doesn’t think much of the man who replaced his friend. He isn’t the biggest fan of Donald Trump. But that doesn’t mean Jay-Z is losing his mind over the Trump presidency, as many pop culture figures have been doing.
Speaking on race, culture, and politics in an interview with the New York Times, Jay-Z praised the current president’s ability to breach the taboo. “The great thing about Donald Trump being president is now we’re forced to have the dialogue,” he explained, referring to what he sees as the nation’s struggle with concealed racism. “Now we’re having the conversation on the large scale; he’s provided the platform for us to have the conversation.” Perhaps in other words, Trump has reduced the need for political correctness.
Don’t be confused. Jay-Z is not a fan of Trump. At length in the interview, and elsewhere, he points out more bad than good in the current presidency. But it’s hard to disagree with him when he notes that this president has cleared the air.
Does that mean the rapper will start cutting checks for the Republican National Committee? No, not at all. Jay-Z doesn’t like Trump as president and Jay-Z doesn’t think much of the top Democratic contenders. He says he will vote for Dave Chappelle in 2020.
