Jan. 28 (UPI) — President Donald Trump cited low unemployment rates among African Americans on Sunday in response to comments made by rapper Jay-Z.
Jay-Z, born Shawn Carter, said President Donald Trump’s description of Haiti, El Salvador and African nations as “shithole countries” was disappointing and hurtful, while appearing on CNN’s The Van Jones Show Saturday.
“Everyone feels anger, but after the anger it’s really hurtful because he’s looking down on a whole population of people and he’s so misinformed because these places have beautiful people,” Carter said.
Carter went on to compare the issue of racism in America to a full garbage can that has been allowed to fester and attract bugs instead of being taken out.
“You don’t take the trash out. You keep spraying whatever over it to make it acceptable and then, you know, as those things grow, then you create a superbug. And then now we have Donald Trump, the superbug,” he said.
Trump issued a response to Carter through Twitter Sunday, saying his policies have resulted in a strong economy and low unemployment rates for African Americans.
“Somebody please inform Jay-Z that because of my policies, Black Unemployment has just been reported to be at the LOWEST RATE EVER RECORDED!” Trump wrote. “Our economy is better than it has been in many decades. Businesses are coming back to America like never before. Chrysler, as an example, is leaving Mexico and coming back to the USA. Unemployment is nearing record lows. We are on the right track!”
Jones later sent a Tweet to Trump noting he asked Carter about black employment figures under Trump and received a “powerful” response.
“It’s not about money at the end of the day,” Carter said. “Money doesn’t equate to happiness. It doesn’t. That’s missing the whole point. You treat people like human beings, then — that’s the main point.”
Carter was honored with the 2018 Grammy Salute to Industry Icons Awardat the Clive Davis and Recording Academy Pre-Grammy Gala in New York on Saturday night.
