Musician Jelly Roll is addressing criticism following his recent encounter with President-elect Donald Trump. The country singer was seen shaking hands and smiling with Trump during UFC 309 in New York on Nov. 16, 2024.
Media Landscape
See how news outlets across the political spectrum are covering this story. Learn more
Left 20%
Center 20%
Right 60%
Bias Distribution Powered by Ground News™
The interaction sparked mixed reactions, prompting Jelly Roll and his wife, Bunnie XO, to clarify the situation on her podcast, “Dumb Blonde.”
Jelly Roll explains his stance
Bunnie XO defended the encounter, calling it a significant moment regardless of political preference.
“The president is like, the highest honor that you can have in the world,” Bunnie XO said. “When you meet a president, that’s a [bleeped] honor, no matter if you like them or not.”
Point phone camera here
Jelly Roll agreed, emphasizing his upbringing in a household that respected the presidency but didn’t focus on politics or voting culture.
“There’s not a chance in hell I’m not going to meet the President-elect,” he said.
He added that he would have done the same for President Joe Biden if given the opportunity. The musician also noted that he avoids discussing politics because he doesn’t feel informed enough on the subject.
However, he recently found interest while listening to a podcast featuring Vivek Ramaswamy, particularly regarding drug policy reform. It was his first time hearing about Ramaswamy, and the discussion piqued his interest.
Get up to speed on the stories leading the day every weekday morning. Sign up for the newsletter today!
By entering your email, you agree to the Terms & Conditions and acknowledge the Privacy Policy.
Advocating for change on Capitol Hill
Earlier this year, Jelly Roll testified on Capitol Hill about the ongoing fentanyl crisis, sharing his personal experiences with addiction and incarceration for drug possession. His testimony highlighted his commitment to addressing the crisis, which he views as a crucial issue.
In a November 2024 interview with People, Jelly Roll revealed that the birth of his daughter while he was behind bars marked a turning point in his life.
“I’m rounding third on my amends list, and I think when I get there, I’ll feel a little better,” he said.
As for the backlash surrounding his interaction with Trump, Jelly Roll said the experience was “cool” and made it clear he’s unfazed by the criticism.
[Kennedy Felton]
Musician Jelly Roll is setting the record straight after facing criticism for a recent encounter with President-elect Donald Trump.
At UFC 309 in New York last month, the country star was spotted shaking hands and sharing smiles with Trump. The moment stirred up a lot of buzz, but Jelly Roll and his wife, Bunnie XO, are clearing the air on her “Dumb Blonde” podcast.
Bunnie XO said, “The president is like, the highest honor that you can have in the world. When you meet a president, that’s a f*ing honor, no matter if you like them or not.”
Jelly Roll backed her up, explaining that he grew up in a household that respected the president but didn’t put much emphasis on politics or voting culture.
Jelly Roll said, “There’s not a chance in hell I’m not going to meet the President-elect. If I would’ve got a call to go meet Joe Biden at any point, I would’ve stopped what I was doing to go meet him.”
Jelly Roll also shared he prefers to speak out about topics he’s truly passionate about – and that means, he has to be well informed. He admitted he doesn’t know enough about politics to speak on it. However, he recalled a recent podcast featuring Vivek Ramaswamy, which was his first time hearing about Ramaswamy, and was especially interested in his approach to drug policy.
Earlier this year, Jelly Roll took a message to Capitol Hill, testifying about his personal struggles with drugs amid the ongoing fentanyl crisis. He’s been open about his past, including serving time for drug possession charges.
In a November interview with People, Jelly Roll says his daughter’s birth while he was incarcerated was a turning point in his life. He reflected, “I’m rounding third on my amends list, and I think when I get there, I’ll feel a little better.”
As for his meeting with Trump, Jelly Roll says it was a cool experience and he’s unbothered by the backlash. Download the SAN app for the latest entertainment stories. I’m Kennedy Felton with SAN.
Media Landscape
See how news outlets across the political spectrum are covering this story. Learn more
Left 20%
Center 20%
Right 60%
Bias Summary
- Fringilla hendrerit nullam venenatis porta commodo taciti placerat sed dignissim dolor sapien varius, nec ridiculus per dui malesuada elementum ad netus pellentesque non.
- Ac arcu velit curabitur non donec elit interdum egestas lacus sed dapibus a taciti fames pellentesque, urna sem lectus gravida duis ex nibh ornare sapien praesent primis maecenas natoque.
Bias Comparison
The Left
vitae id mus sodales integer dapibus vestibulum amet aliquam non mi enim curae donec torquent fermentum, nostra platea diam mauris luctus eros senectus placerat tellus cras accumsan iaculis gravida consectetur.
The Center
rutrum fames consequat interdum ultrices risus himenaeos nisi consectetur praesent porttitor laoreet ullamcorper conubia, vel penatibus pharetra sit dis rhoncus sed non morbi hendrerit orci blandit.
Report an issue with this comparison
Bias Distribution
13 other sources covering this story
Total News Sources
13
Leaning Left
1
Center
1
Leaning Right
3
Last Updated
4 months ago
Bias Distribution Powered by Ground News™
Straight to your inbox.
By entering your email, you agree to the Terms & Conditions and acknowledge the Privacy Policy.
