Rapper Nelly is facing some heat after it was reported that he’ll be performing at one of President-elect Donald Trump’s inaugural balls. But Nelly is defending his choice, saying it’s not about politics—it’s about showing respect for the presidency.
In an interview with Willie D, Nelly explained that his decision wasn’t meant as a political statement. He told TMZ, “He’s the president. He won. That’s why I’m not telling you who to vote for. He’s the president of the United States, not the candidate for the United States.”
Nelly made it clear that he doesn’t have to agree with Trump’s policies to take the stage. “I respect the office. It don’t matter who is in office. If they can put their life on the line for whoever is in office, I can damn sure perform for whoever is in office,” he added.
He also pushed back on accusations that money was his motivation, saying, “I’m not doing this for money. I’m doing this because it’s an honor… That’s what this is about.”
Despite having expressed his opinions about Trump in the past, Nelly insists that his decision to perform is just about honoring the office and not making a political statement.
