Nelly speaks out against critics who have condemned his appearance at tomorrow’s Liberty Inaugural Ball, one of three official balls celebrating Donald Trump’s return to the presidency.
St. Louis rapper spoke about the performance during an interview with Willie D Live and played down the political implications of the performance, noting that he is simply honoring the moment by showing up to the event.
“I thought you went with me because I fought for my city and I try to lift my city every step of the way. I didn’t know you went with me because you thought I was going with whoever you voted for. I knew that no,” he said. “I didn’t know I had to agree with your political choices, and I thought the things you don’t do are the things you say should be done. If you follow what I’m doing, this shouldn’t even be an argument. He is the president. He won. This is not a campaign, this is not an RNC. I am not out on a political campaign.”
He went on to liken the performance to the same sense of civic duty that American servicemen feel when defending their country. “I’m not doing this for money, I’m doing this because it’s an honor. I respect the office. It doesn’t matter who’s in office,” he says. “Like our men and women, our brothers and sisters who protect this country, must go to war and must put their lives on the line for anyone in office. So if they can put their life on the line for anybody in office, I can damn sure deliver.”
Willie D addressed criticism that running for office meant appearing in support of Trump. “More than half of this country voted for Trump. If you respect the process when the process works in your favor, respect the process when it doesn’t work in your favor,” replied Nelly.
Multiple representatives for the rapper did not respond Amountprevious requests for comments.
At the Liberty Inaugural Ball, Nelly will grace the stage with the Village People, whose classic “YMCA” became a recurring song played at Trump campaign rallies. The Village People released a statement earlier this week about its involvement in events surrounding Trump’s profanity. “We know this won’t make some of you happy to hear but we believe music should be performed without regard to politics,” the group wrote on Facebook. “Our song YMCA is a global anthem that will hopefully help bring the country together after a tumultuous and divisive campaign in which our preferred candidate lost. That’s why we believe now is the time to bring the country together through music and that’s why VILLAGE PEOPLE will be performing at various events as part of the 2025 inauguration of Donald J. Trump.”
While Nelly and the Village People will perform at the balls, Carrie Underwood, Lee Greenwood and Christopher Macchio are scheduled to perform at the opening itself. On Friday, Snoop Dogg, Rick Ross and Soulja Boy showed up at the crypto ball, sparking divisive online reactions that pointed to previous conflicting statements by some of the rappers.
Nelly also sang another song about Trump, telling Page Six in 2017 that he disagreed with his approach as commander-in-chief. “You know the thing about Donald Trump is I liked Donald Trump, I did, I just don’t like Donald Trump as my president,” he said. “Dude is a trip. Pre-presidency, I was cool with Donald. Loved his hotel. I’m more or less mad at him because I can’t stay at his hotel now. You’ve done that. And I’ve stayed there in 15 years, and now you’re pulling this together, old lady.”
