Rocky Jones said he thought his barbershop in Buckhead was going to host an event aimed at helping Black business owners. But he claimed that was not the case as his establishment was rather used as a venue to host a campaign event for the Republican Paty’s presidential candidate Donald Trump.
In an interview with 11Alive, Jones, who said he has been running his Rocky’s Barbershop for 17 years, said he was contacted about the initially proposed event via text and a subsequent phone call, adding that he was out of the country at the time.
He also said he ultimately agreed for the supposed program to be held in his barbershop because he was informed it was going to be a small and private rendezvous for Black small business owners. But several people – including Trump affiliate Ben Carson – ended up attending the event. Trump also made a surprise phone call when the event was being held.
“I thought it was going to be something real private,” Jones said. “I’m thinking about Black businesses in Atlanta, small Black businesses in Atlanta. And I’m like, ‘Ok, so when are we gonna start talking about this?’”
Jones also said he was shocked when Trump called. “I’m like, why is the ex-president calling somebody in my barbershop? This has nothing to do with small Black businesses,” he said, adding that he has since received backlash – even from people he does not know.
“We had some calls Thursday. We definitely got some calls, some backlash, some angry people that don’t know me and I have to deal with that,” said Jones.
Jones also stressed that his barbershop is not a place where politics is even discussed. “I have no involvement in politics. We don’t even talk politics in my barbershop. It’s all sports. The World Cup, soccer, baseball, basketball – politics is not what I do. I commend everybody to vote, but that’s your business. ‘You know, I don’t tell you what to do,’” Jones said.
And though Jones said he had lost customers after he hosted the event, he expressed his hope about things getting back to normal. 11Alive said it reached out to multiple representatives of Trump’s campaign for a response to Jones’ claims. But the news outlet said it is yet to get a response.
