Hip hop mogul Russell Simmons bashed his “old friend” Donald Trump in a letter to the GOP presidential candidate expressing his disappointment about Trump’s recent comments about not allowing Muslims into the U.S.
“Over 30-plus years you have been an amazing friend; endorsing my books, coming to my shows, flying me on your planes, your helicopters, and even allowing my family members and myself to stay in your house in Florida many times,” Simmons wrote on his website, Global Grind. “So, it kind of pains me to know that my public statements about your candidacy have strained or ruined our friendship. However, the fact is, what’s at stake is bigger than us.”
Simmons brought up his role as the chairman of the Foundation for Ethnic Understanding, a group “dedicated to strengthening relations between ethnic communities,” according to its website.
The Def Jam co-founder recounted an anecdote about putting Trump on the phone with a “Rabbi Schneier” and setting up a meeting with the Islamic Society of North America’s chairman on another occasion when Trump made derogatory remarks about Muslims.
“My friends, both Muslims and Jews, are saying there are so many comparisons between your rap and Hitler’s, and I cannot disagree with them, Donald,” Simmons said. “You can’t possibly want your kids or your wife Melania (all of whom I know and respect) to live with that.”
He went on to call Trump, who currently sits at second place in the Washington Examiner‘s presidential power rankings, a “born leader” and “generous, kind man,” but also a “one-man wrecking ball willing to destroy our nation’s foundation of freedom.”
Then he tore into Trump’s tendency to court controversy.
“Stop the bull—-,” Simmons said. “Stop fueling fires of hate. Don’t feed into the rhetoric created by small-minded people. You’re smarter and certainly more loving then you let on … I know the cheap seats are easy to play to, but you can get them just by being the man I have known for nearly 30 years.”
Simmons quoted what he called one of his favorite Quran verses, “love all men of good books equally,” and warned Trump: “The minute you target one group or one religion or immigrants, you have failed.”
He concluded by wishing Trump good luck on the campaign trail despite their vastly different politics.
“I wish you good luck on your path towards the White House, but as I’m sure you know, our belief systems are polar opposites on many of the issues,” he said. “And I will be campaigning rigorously against you. But if you win, I might still accept an invitation to your house to straighten you up every so often.”
