Jelly Roll Defends Trump Jokes During Jimmy Kimmel Guest Appearance
Rapper Jelly Roll reiterated his decision to mock President Donald Trump on a late-night show, saying the jokes were part of his role as host and that public officials should be able to tolerate satire.
Rapper and singer Jelly Roll, guest-hosting "Jimmy Kimmel Live," addressed criticism after his monologue included jokes about President Donald Trump. He said the remarks were made because "that's where you talk about the news and you make jokes" and noted that he expected some viewers to be surprised.
"Let’s be honest for a second. Any U.S. president should be able to handle a few jokes, right? They should also be able to handle gas prices, healthcare, and the occasional international conflict," he said.
Jelly Roll added that those who wanted jokes about former Vice President Kamala Harris "should've voted for her," and stated he would continue speaking his mind regardless of any impact on his music audience.
He emphasized that he does not identify with any political party, citing previous testimony before Congress on the fentanyl crisis where he described himself as unaffiliated. He also recalled meeting then-president-elect Trump at a UFC event in December 2024, describing the encounter as a sign of respect for the office.
Conservative commentators on social media expressed displeasure with his comments, viewing them as a departure from perceived support for Trump.