As President Donald Trump marked the first 100 days of his second term with fiery rhetoric and campaign-style bravado, rapper Nelly struck a different tone: one of unity, respect and optimism.
The 50-year-old St. Louis rapper, who faced backlash for performing at Trump’s Liberty Ball in January, remains unfazed by criticism. In a recent interview with Fox News, he made it clear his focus is on fostering togetherness—not political divides.
“I’m all for everybody staying positive about any and everything,” Nelly told the outlet. “I’m a glass half full type of guy. I’m more empowered by bringing people together and making sure that we all get what we need, when we need it and why we need it.”
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His performance at the Liberty Ball earlier this year sparked heated responses online, prompting the rapper to defend his choice during a livestreamed conversation with fellow hip-hop artist Willie D.
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“I’m not doing this for money. I’m doing this ’cause it’s an honor. I respect the office,” Nelly said at the time.
“It don’t matter who is in office. The same way that 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 [is] in office,” he continued. “So, if they can put their life on the line for whoever [is] in office, I can damn sure perform for whoever [is] in office.”
A source close to Nelly told Fox News that the rapper has a deep family connection to the military. His father, along with several aunts and uncles, served in the armed forces—shaping his view of patriotism and public service. The source emphasized that Nelly has long steered clear of political campaigning and sees performing for the president as a nonpartisan act of respect.
“The politics, for me, is over. He won! He’s the president,” Nelly said in his earlier conversation. “He’s the commander in chief of what I would like to say is the best country in the world.”
Nelly reiterated that his performance would have been the same for any president, regardless of party affiliation. “It is an honor for me to perform for the president of the United States, regardless of who is in office. If President Biden would’ve asked me to perform, I would’ve performed. If Vice President Kamala Harris would’ve won and asked me to perform, I would’ve performed,” he said.
READ ALSO: Nelly reveals why he agreed to perform at Trump’s inaugural ball amid backlash
After the event, Nelly reflected on the experience: “It was an honor to have performed for the highest office in the greatest nation. Now we look to the president to step up, serve, and lift us all.”
Meanwhile, President Trump used his 100-day milestone to praise his administration’s agenda in a speech delivered to supporters in suburban Detroit. Framing his presidency as a “revolution of common sense,” Trump took aim at Democratic opponents, the Federal Reserve chairman, and unfavorable poll numbers—while highlighting a sharp decline in illegal border crossings. But with a volatile global trade war underway, the economy remains a pressure point in his administration.
“We’ve just gotten started, you haven’t seen anything yet,” Trump declared.
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