Country music singer Jelly Roll addressed his political affiliations after making jokes about former President Donald Trump during his guest-hosting stint on "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" earlier this week. The artist, born Jason DeFord, explained that while some perceived him as a supporter of the Trump administration, his views are more nuanced.
"Before this week, everybody thought I was MAGA, and now they think I’m some sort of liberal snowflake," Jelly Roll said during his Thursday monologue on the ABC show. He clarified that his attendance at a UFC event at the White House did not signify unqualified support for the administration's policies. "Just because I watched a fight on TV doesn’t mean I support everything this administration does."
Jelly Roll, who has previously been described as "disconnected" from politics, emphasized that his guest-hosting gig did not mean he adopted all of Jimmy Kimmel's political views. "Hosting Jimmy Kimmel’s show doesn’t mean I have all of Jimmy Kimmel’s politics," he stated.
He described his political outlook as "pretty down the middle," noting, "Sure, I lean left on some things, but like most folks, I’m pretty down the middle." He identified himself by his core values and roles: "I am a Christian, I am a country music singer, I’m a farmer, I’m a bow hunter, and most of the things I eat I prefer to get with a stick and a string."
"Human dignity isn’t Republican nor Democrat. Compassion isn’t left-wing, and mercy isn’t right-wing," Jelly Roll asserted. "Pain and healing knows no partisanship. Hurting hearts are more important than poll numbers. And there are no boundaries or borders for broken families."
The singer also defended his decision to shake hands with Trump during a White House visit in November 2024. He expressed pride in the moment, stating, "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 added that a handshake or a conversation does not constitute political endorsement. "A handshake is not an endorsement. A conversation is not allegiance. And a joke is not a political point of view."
Jelly Roll referenced his earlier monologue where he referred to Trump as a "fat pig," which he saw as an exercise of free speech. "Ain’t that what’s great about being an American? The democracy, the freedom of speech," he remarked.
He acknowledged past instances where he felt he did not handle political discussions effectively, such as at the Grammy Awards in February, where he called himself a "dumb redneck" and expressed disconnection from politics. "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.'