Jelly Roll addressed the curiosity surrounding his political stance following his comedic remarks about President Donald Trump on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” earlier this week.
“Before this week, everyone assumed I was all-in with MAGA, and now they’re pegging me as some sort of liberal snowflake,” the 41-year-old musician remarked on Thursday as he hosted the ABC late-night show.
Recalling his expressed enthusiasm for the president’s UFC Freedom 250 event hosted at the White House last month, the Grammy winner commented, “Watching a fight on TV doesn’t equate to endorsing everything this administration stands for.”
Nevertheless, he clarified, “Being a guest host on Jimmy Kimmel’s program doesn’t align me entirely with Jimmy Kimmel’s political perspectives.”
Jason Bradley DeFord, better known as Jelly Roll, shared, “Sure, I lean left on certain topics, but like many, I strike a balance in the middle. I am a Christian, a country music artist, a farmer, a bow hunter, and I favor getting my food with a stick and a string.”
He continued, “Human dignity isn’t Republican nor Democrat. Compassion isn’t left-wing, and mercy isn’t right-wing. Pain and healing knows no partisanship. Hurting hearts are more important than poll numbers. And there are no boundaries or borders for broken families.”
Jelly Roll went on to share a “hot take” — that he doesn’t regret shaking the politician’s hand in November 2024 and, in fact, is “proud” of the moment.
“Out of respect for [my late friend who served the Marines] and everybody who has ever served and continues to serve this country, I will always shake the hand of the sitting president of the United States when asked,” he shared. “My father would have been disappointed had I done anything other than that.”
ALSO READ: Prince Harry Requests Enhanced Security from Home Secretary Ahead of UK Visit
The “Save Me” hitmaker added, “I will shake the hand of any president that occupies that office because a handshake is not an endorsement. A conversation is not allegiance. And a joke is not a political point of view.”
“In my business, taking a picture with a political figure, or anybody else for that matter, doesn’t mean you agree or disagree with their policies or politics. More often than not, I f–king don’t.”
Jelly Roll celebrated being able to “make jokes about” Trump, referencing his Monday monologue, in which he dubbed the “Apprentice” alum a “fat pig.”
“Ain’t that what’s great about being an American?” he asked viewers. “The democracy, the freedom of speech.”
Jelly Roll, notably, made headlines in February when he was asked about ICE on the Grammys red carpet and called himself someone “disconnected” from politics.
“People shouldn’t care to hear my opinion,” he said at the awards show. “I’m a dumb redneck. I haven’t watched enough.”
During Wednesday’s monologue, Jelly Roll admitted he “had a microphone and I didn’t use it the right way” at the time.
His most recent comments were an attempt to “try and do the right thing.”