Trump Makes Surprise Offer for A$AP Rocky

The president offers to 'personally vouch' for the rapper's bail
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Jul 20, 2019 12:00 PM CDT
Trump Makes Surprise Offer for A$AP Rocky
This Feb. 9, 2019 file photo shows A$AP Rocky at Pre-Grammy Gala And Salute To Industry Icons in Beverly Hills, Calif.   (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP, File)

President Trump said he spoke with Sweden's prime minister Saturday about jailed rapper A$AP Rocky and "offered to personally vouch for his bail," the AP reports. Trump tweeted that during "a very good call" with Prime Minister Stefan Lofven, he also "assured him that A$AP was not a flight risk." The platinum-selling, Grammy-nominated artist has been in custody since early this month over an alleged fight. Urged on by the first lady and celebrities including Kanye West and Kim Kardashian West, the president had said in a Friday tweet that he would intervene to try to free Rocky, whose real name is Rakim Mayers. "Our teams will be talking further, and we agreed to speak again in the next 48 hours!" Trump wrote Saturday after speaking with Lofven.

The prime minister's press secretary, Toni Eriksson, confirmed hours later that Lofven and Trump had a conversation that "was friendly and respectful and lasted about 20 minutes." Lofven "made certain to emphasize the complete independence of the Swedish judicial system, prosecutors and courts," Eriksson said in a statement. "He underlined that in Sweden everyone is equal before the law and that the government cannot and will not attempt to influence the legal proceedings." The two leaders may have a follow-up call, "but nothing has been booked or planned," she said. Lofven had issued a statement earlier Saturday saying he would be glad to speak with Trump about A$AP Rocky's detention but giving the same warning about his government's unwillingness to interfere.

(More rapper stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X