You may have heard that American rapper A$AP Rocky is currently being held in Sweden on an assault charge. He was allegedly involved in a fight on June 30 while on tour in Stockholm. Public videos show Rocky punching two men, but his attorney says he was acting in self-defense. The men had reportedly been following the musician and his team.
At the urging of his friends Kanye West and Kim Kardashian, President Trump stepped in to try and help. He announced he called Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Löfventry and secure the artist's release. Unfortunately, it has not worked out so far.
Very disappointed in Prime Minister Stefan Löfven for being unable to act. Sweden has let our African American Community down in the United States. I watched the tapes of A$AP Rocky, and he was being followed and harassed by troublemakers. Treat Americans fairly! #FreeRocky
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 25, 2019
Give A$AP Rocky his FREEDOM. We do so much for Sweden but it doesn’t seem to work the other way around. Sweden should focus on its real crime problem! #FreeRocky
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 25, 2019
A lot of people are applauding Trump for trying to bring the musician home. But the Democrats running for president have different responses to the intervention.
"I’m glad he’s sticking up for this one American," Buttigieg said on TMZ. But, the Democrat added, it "won’t make up" for the way his administration has deepened racial divisions and made systemic racism “worse.”
Americans will "see through" Trump's campaign to free Rocky, Buttigieg said.
Strangely, Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA) was downright appalled that Trump had intervened at all. Asked about it at this week's NAACP presidential forum, she agreed with moderator April Ryan that it was an abuse of power.
Harris calls Trump’s attempt to free A$AP Rocky a misuse of power
— Jeff Cimmino (@jeffcimmino) July 24, 2019
April Ryan: "So you’re saying this is another piece on the rap sheet of Donald Trump, this misuse of power in the A$AP Rocky case?"
Harris: "Yes."https://t.co/A4gqPdAjXZ pic.twitter.com/wQYCAQCGXJ
"As president, how would you handle the A$AP Rocky case in Sweden?” Ryan began. “How will you use your power to make sure misuse of power doesn’t happen in cases like this, and that this case would stay in the State Department and not go to the White House?”
"There’s no question that this White House is, has been playing politics with his role of leadership, and it has to end,” Harris responded. (Fox News)
Harris has received a lot of flak for the work she did as a former federal prosecutor in California. To progressives, she was way too strict and often on "the wrong side of history." Her take on A$AP Rocky gave those critics a chance to question her criminal justice agenda again.