Florida Republican state Representative Jimmy Patronis has declared musician Jelly Roll unwelcome in his congressional district following the singer's jokes about Donald Trump's weight during a guest host appearance on "Jimmy Kimmel Live." Patronis announced his stance on social media platform X on Wednesday, stating that the singer is "100% not welcomed to Florida’s panhandle" and that he does not want to see the singer's bus on Interstate 10.
During the August 26 broadcast, Jelly Roll, who recently shared his own weight loss journey, quipped about Trump's physical appearance. "Well, Mr. President, from one fat pig to another, take it from me, that physical fitness is very important," the singer said. He added, "And trust me, you’ll be happy to see your penis again." Jelly Roll, who noted he has lost more than 300 pounds, concluded his joke by saying, "That means I’ve lost an entire Donald Trump."
Patronis, a vocal supporter of Trump, expressed his displeasure with the jokes. "He’s always been the token ‘country’ star the libs in California are allowed to enjoy. (He ain’t country, never was.) Take the TDS elsewhere, loser," Patronis posted on X. The term "TDS" is often used by political conservatives to refer to what they describe as "Trump Derangement Syndrome."
This public statement by Patronis comes despite a social media post from June 2024, where the same representative appeared to have a different view of the artist. The incident has drawn criticism and mockery online, with some users pointing out the perceived hypocrisy and others suggesting it reflects a broader trend of political polarization affecting cultural figures.
Jelly Roll, whose real name is Jason DeFord, addressed the controversy on the following night's show. He defended his actions, stating, "I did a couple of jokes... because I’m hosting a damn late-night show." He added, "Any U.S. president should be able to handle a few jokes, right? They should also be able to handle gas prices, healthcare, and the occasional international conflict."