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Chicago Sun-Times
Chicago Sun-Times
National
USA TODAY

Trump expresses support for release of detained rapper A$AP Rocky from Swedish jail

A$AP Rocky performs at the MARQUEE Singapore grand opening celebration on April 13, 2019 in Singapore. | Getty Images for MARQUEE Singapo

President Donald Trump is weighing in on the detention of A$AP Rocky in Sweden following an alleged altercation involving the rapper.

A$AP Rocky has been detained in Sweden for two weeks – with prosecutors seeking to hold him until July 25 – as police investigate a June 30 fight in downtown Stockholm.

Trump told the White House press pool on Friday that his African American friends called him to help get the rapper released from Swedish jail, saying that others should support his attempts to help as well.

“We are one,” Trump said.

Thank you @realDonaldTrump , @SecPompeo, Jared Kushner & everyone involved with the efforts to Free ASAP Rocky & his two friends. Your commitment to justice reform is so appreciated https://t.co/Ym1Rzo5Z6c

— Kim Kardashian West (@KimKardashian) July 18, 2019

The president also said that first lady Melania Trump was the one who brought the issue to his attention, adding, “We hope to get him home soon.”

Trump is likely the biggest addition in the fight to free A$AP, whose real name is Rakin Mayers.

Kim Kardashian West tweeted Thursday, linking to a TMZ and thanking the president, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner.

“Thank you @realDonaldTrump, @SecPompeo, Jared Kushner & everyone involved with the efforts to Free ASAP Rocky & his two friends. Your commitment to justice reform is so appreciated,” Kardashian West wrote in the tweet.

Other celebrities including Sean “Diddy” Combs, Justin Bieber, Tyga and Jada Pinkett Smith have called for #JusticeForRocky, linking to a Change.org petition demanding his release.

Mayers was in Sweden to perform at a music festival when he and his bodyguards were ordered to be held for two weeks after being detained two days earlier.

Videos published on social media, show a person being violently thrown onto the ground by Mayers. It was not clear who else was involved. A defense lawyer has said it was self-defense.

Contributing: Associated Press, Cydney Henderson

Read more at usatoday.com.

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