Nelly believes people ought to maintain a positive outlook on Trump's presidency

Nelly is keeping an optimistic outlook on Donald Trump's presidency — even in the face of criticism and historically low approval ratings. As Trump marked his 100th day in office with just a 41% approval rating — the lowest for any U.S. president in over seven decades — the “Country Grammar” rapper remained unfazed.

The rapper stirred controversy earlier in the year when he chose to perform at one of Trump’s inauguration events, a move that drew criticism from fans and fellow artists alike. But Nelly stood firm in his decision, saying simply: “He’s the president — he won!”

Fox News caught up with Nelly at Stagecoach Festival over the weekend, shortly after Trump’s dismal approval numbers made headlines. Rather than criticize, Nelly continued to preach positivity.

“I’m all for everybody staying positive about any and everything,” he said. “I’m a glass half-full type of guy. I’m more focused on bringing people together and making sure we all get what we need, when we need it, and why we need it.”

However, not everyone shared Nelly’s sentiment.

At a Grammy Awards afterparty hosted by Anderson .Paak, singer and activist Janelle Monáe took the mic for an impromptu freestyle after Nelly’s hit “Hot In Herre” played. Her lyrics directly called him out for supporting Trump:

“I used to like Nelly, but then he went to perform for Donald Trump / F*** that n****, don’t give a f***.”

She didn’t hold back, making it clear that her issue wasn’t personal — it was political. She highlighted her support for women, the LGBTQ+ community, and people of color, and accused Nelly of selling out by choosing to perform.

In a prior interview with Geto Boys legend Willie D, Nelly explained his perspective further, distancing himself from any political alignment.

“This isn’t about politics. He’s the president — this isn’t a campaign rally. I didn’t get paid $1.5 million to help someone get elected,” Nelly said. “I’m not doing this for money. I’m doing it out of respect for the office. If our military can risk their lives for whoever holds the presidency, I can perform for whoever holds the presidency.”

He also defended Trump against accusations of white supremacy, challenging people to “show him” proof. Though he acknowledged some of Trump’s past actions — such as allegedly refusing to rent to Black tenants in the 1970s — he emphasized the idea that people can change.

“I’m not saying he doesn’t have some f***ed up ways,” Nelly added. “But he’s the president now. I’m not here to tell you who to vote for — I’m here to respect the office.”

Source: Hiphopdx
Image: Donald Trump Pentagon 2017 by DOD photo by U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Jette Carr | Public domain

Nelly by derivative work: Crisco 1492 is licensed under CC BY 2.0