Nelly breaks silence after backlash for agreeing to perform at Trump's inaugural ball
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Nelly has responded to the backlash over his decision to perform at the Liberty Ball on Monday night, celebrating the inauguration of President Donald Trump. The rapper, 50, who along with Snoop Dogg has agreed to take part in the inaugural festivities, explained his reasons for accepting the invitation to right-wing journalist Officer Lew on X.
![[Nelly made the comments to journalist Officer Lew on X who uploaded them on Saturday night, stating that he was 'doing this 'cause it's an honor. I respect the office. It don't matter who in office']](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/19/18/94267639-14302271-Nelly_made_the_comments_to_journalist_Officer_Lew_on_X_who_uploa-a-33_1737312261671.jpg)
'I'm not doing this for money, I'm doing this 'cause it's an honor. I respect the office.' the Grillz artist explained. 'It don't matter who in office.'. He compared himself to members of the military. 'The same way our men and women, our brothers and sisters who protect this country have to go to war and have to put their life on the line for whoever in the office. So, if they can put they life on the line for whoever in office, I can damn sure perform for whoever in office.
![[When asked about accusation he was 'propping up a white supremacist?' Nelly replied 'I would ask them to show me where he's a white supremacist']](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/19/18/94267635-14302271-When_asked_about_accusation_he_was_propping_up_a_white_supremaci-a-28_1737312260786.jpg)
Lew then asked him, 'What do you say to the people that say "we're not giving you this backlash because of your political affiliation or because of your political choice, or whatever, we're giving you this backlash because you are propping up a white supremacist?"'.
![[Referring to Trump he admitted, 'I'm not saying that he aint got some f-ed up ways, that's not what I'm saying at all,... what I'm saying is that he's the president of the United States. He's not the candidate for the United States, He's the president. He won' (Pictured in Lancaster, PA in October 2024)]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/19/18/94268631-14302271-Referring_to_Trump_he_admitted_I_m_not_saying_that_he_aint_got_s-a-29_1737312260835.jpg)
Nelly has responded to the backlash he's received since signing on to perform at the Liberty Ball on Monday night in Washington, DC celebrating President Donald Trump's inauguration. 'I would ask them to show me where he's a white supremacist,' Nelly answered.
![[Nelly received praise from Black and white commenters]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/19/18/94267641-14302271-Nelly_received_praise_from_Black_and_white_commenters-a-30_1737312260876.jpg)
He then brought up components of the 1994 Crime Bill sponsored by then-Senator Joe Biden, confusing it with the 1986 Crime Bill signed by Ronald Reagan, which which called for a minimum mandatory sentence of five years without parole for anyone caught with five grams of crack cocaine.
![[Many agreed with his decision to 'respect the office' of President]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/19/18/94267633-14302271-Many_agreed_with_his_decision_to_respect_the_office_of_President-a-35_1737312261813.jpg)
