President Donald Trump is slamming Sweden after rapper A$AP Rocky was charged with assault over a fight in Stockholm last month.
”Very disappointed in Prime Minister Stefan Löfven for being unable to act,” Trump tweeted Thursday. ”Sweden has let our African American Community down in the United States.”
The Grammy-nominated artist – whose real name is Rakim Mayers – has been detained in Sweden since July 3 while authorities investigate his involvement in a street fight that took place before he was set to appear at a local music festival. He will remain in custody until trial.
Very disappointed in Prime Minister Stefan Löfven for being unable to act. Sweden has let our African American Community down in the United States. I watched the tapes of A$AP Rocky, and he was being followed and harassed by troublemakers. Treat Americans fairly! #FreeRocky
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 25, 2019
”Treat Americans fairly!” Trump added. ”I watched the tapes of A$AP Rocky, and he was being followed and harassed by troublemakers.”
Videos published on social media show a person being violently thrown onto the ground by the rapper. Rocky posted several videos leading up to the altercation on his own Instagram account, in which he pleads with the men to stop following his group.
“IM INNOCENT,” the rapper, 30, commented under one of the videos before his arrest.
But, Swedish prosecutor Daniel Suneson disagreed with Rocky’s self-defense claims after studying “a greater amount of material than that which has previously been available on the internet.”
In a statement Thursday, Suneson said that he filed charges against the artist and two others “suspected of assault causing actual bodily harm, having come to the conclusion that the events in question constitute a crime and despite claims of self-defense and provocation.”
In response, Trump urged for Sweden to “Give A$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!” the president tweeted, adding the popular hashtag #FreeRocky.”
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
On Saturday, Trump said he spoke with Löfven about Rocky and “offered to personally vouch for his bail,” something that is not available under Swedish law. 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 the rapper.
Löfven’s press secretary, Toni Eriksson, later said that the two leaders had a “friendly and respectful” conversation in which Löfven “made certain to emphasize the complete independence of the Swedish judicial system, prosecutors and courts” and stressed that the government cannot and will not attempt to influence the legal proceedings.
The Stockholm District Court plans to announce next week when trial for Rocky and the two other suspects’ will take place.
Many in the entertainment industry also called for Rocky’s release, including Justin Bieber, Sean “Diddy” Combs, Jada Pinkett Smith, Kris Jenner, Shawn Mendes and G Eazy.
Contributing: The Associated Press. Read more at usatoday.com
