politics

The ugly aftermath of Donald Trump’s recent rally at Madison Square Garden has continued to escalate, following offensive remarks made by comedian Tony Hinchcliffe, who referred to Puerto Rico as “a floating island of garbage.” Now, one of Trump’s high-profile Latino supporters, reggaeton artist Nicky Jam, has withdrawn his endorsement.

Latin music super star Nicky Jam, whose real name is Nick Rivera Caminero, recently shared a video on Instagram where he expressed disappointment with Trump, saying, “Puerto Rico deserves respect.” Speaking in Spanish, Jam explained that he initially endorsed Trump because he believed the former president’s economic approach would benefit Latinos in the U.S. “A lot of immigrants are suffering over the state of the economy — [Trump] being a businessman, I felt it was the right move,” he told his 43 million followers.

Get this, Jam stated that he “never in his life” expected that “a comedian would appear to criticize and talk badly about my [Puerto Rico].” Just last month, the musician had appeared on stage with Trump at a rally in Las Vegas. The event gained attention when Trump mistakenly referred to Jam as a woman, saying, “Latin music superstar Nicky Jam. Do you know Nicky? She’s hot.” Trump only corrected himself after Jam joined him on stage, wearing a red “Make America Great Again” hat.

Hinchcliffe’s disparaging comments have sparked widespread backlash, with several influential Puerto Rican artists, including Bad Bunny, Jennifer Lopez, and Ricky Martin, openly supporting Trump’s opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris. Lopez is scheduled to appear with Harris at a rally in Las Vegas later this week.

With Election Day fast literally around the corner, these remarks may have significant implications, especially in key swing states like Pennsylvania, where nearly half a million residents are of Puerto Rican descent, according to U.S. census data.

In an attempt to contain the massive fallout, Trump held a rally in Allentown, Pennsylvania, a predominantly Latino city. However, during an interview with Sean Hannity on Fox News, he minimized the controversy, suggesting the remarks were not a “big deal.”

What ya’ll think about Nicky Jam pulling back his endorsement, too little too late or nah?

The post Nicky Jam Takes Back Trump Endorsement After Racist MAGA Rally Fallout appeared first on .

Talk about between a rock and a hard place. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson is under pressure to return a $150,000 campaign donation from Grammy-winning rapper Lil Durk, or Durk Banks, who faces federal charges of orchestrating a murder-for-hire attempt. In August 2022, Banks allegedly financed an attempt to kill rival rapper Tyquian Terrel Bowman, known as Quando Rondo, in Los Angeles. Though Bowman survived, his cousin Saviay’a Robinson was killed in the attack. Now, questions are mounting over Mayor Johnson’s decision to keep the donation, even as Banks, a major contributor to Johnson’s campaign, faces these serious charges.

What’s interesting is Johnson’s response has raised eyebrows. When asked why he hasn’t returned the money, Johnson stated that doing so would equate to prematurely “passing judgment on a Black man before a full trial has actually come to fruition.” Wow. If that’s not standing on your ten toes, we don’t know what is.

Johnson added, “I don’t know all the circumstances around these accusations… but here’s another example of a young Black man who grew up in severe trauma that led to life choices that he has been very open and vocal about, healing from those choices.”

However critics argue that returning the donation wouldn’t imply Banks’ guilt but would merely distance the mayor’s office from the controversy. They also highlight how Banks, through his Chicago-based rap group “Only the Family” (OTF), is linked to violent gang activity according to the U.S. attorney’s office in Los Angeles. This reputation for violence is at odds with Mayor Johnson’s mission to reduce Chicago’s gun violence, a concern central to his policies and public messaging.

Get this, Johnson’s stance contrasts with other political figures who have swiftly distanced themselves from campaign contributors facing criminal charges. For instance, in 2019, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle returned $116,000 raised by an Alderman who was later charged with corruption. Similarly, U.S. Rep. Jesús “Chuy” García, another Chicago mayoral candidate, returned a donation from cryptocurrency mogul Sam Bankman-Fried after his criminal charges surfaced.

What’s more, Banks has recently signaled a shift in his public image — posting about his Muslim faith, supporting Chicago youth, and celebrating the clearing of his past convictions — his alleged involvement in this recent murder-for-hire plot raises questions. Banks, who attempted to leave the country before being apprehended near Miami International Airport, now faces federal charges in a case involving “hundreds of hours” of evidence and investigation, including forensics and surveillance.

As the shocking investigation unfolds, Johnson’s reluctance to return Banks’ donation is perceived by some as tacit support for a figure linked to the very type of violence that Chicago’s leaders seek to curb. This tension underscores the complexities Johnson faces as he navigates his responsibilities to the city while balancing his alliances and political affiliations.

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