Trump: ‘We already started’ talks to get A$AP Rocky home from Sweden

President Trump says he’s working to try to bring A$AP Rocky back to the United States following the rapper’s detainment in Sweden.

“We’ll be talking to them — we already started,” Trump told reporters when asked in the Oval Office on Friday about getting the “Brand New Guy” rapper released from Swedish custody.

{mosads}While he hasn’t been charged with a crime, the New York performer has been held in a Swedish jail since earlier this month, after he was involved in a June street fight in Stockholm that his camp says was started by people harassing him and his entourage. A Swedish court reportedly ruled Friday that he could be held at least another week as prosecutors determined whether to charge him.

“I personally don’t know A$AP Rocky, but I can tell you he has tremendous support from the African American community in this country,” Trump said. “When I say African American, I think I can really say from everybody in this country because we’re all one,” he added.

The president credited Melania Trump with bringing the 30-year-old entertainer’s case to his attention.

“We’re working with State Department and we hope to get him home soon,” the first lady said.

Multiple reports Thursday said Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, at the president’s request, was working to have A$AP Rocky — who was born Rakim Mayers — released from solitary confinement, following discussions between Kim Kardashian West and White House adviser Jared Kushner.

Kardashian West, who has lobbied the administration on criminal justice issues before, tweeted her thanks for their efforts on Thursday:

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

On Friday, Trump said that “many, many members of the African American community” contacted him asking him to help resolve the situation. 

Trump later tweeted that he had spoke to Kardashian West’s husband, the rapper Kanye West, about A&AP Rocky.

Just spoke to @KanyeWest about his friend A$AP Rocky’s incarceration. I will be calling the very talented Prime Minister of Sweden to see what we can do about helping A$AP Rocky. So many people would like to see this quickly resolved!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 19, 2019