In the stillness of disgrace [update]

Time flies when you wake up each day and ask yourself “What fresh hell is this?” That’s why it’s hard to believe that this time last month Herr President von Shoutsalot was trying to bully another Scandinavian country into doing his bidding: He wanted Sweden to release A$AP Rocky, a musician who had been arrested and charged with assault.

Many people accurately guessed this was an attempt to garner support with the African-American music, because you know we all love us every single one of those hippity hop music artists as much as we love fried chicken.

However, this absolutely astounding article from Yahoo! News shows …

According to new details provided by sources involved, Trump’s role in pushing for Rocky’s release started with a reality television megastar calling the West Wing, a mysterious entertainment industry “fixer” and two Trump supporters. The president’s allies who connected Rocky’s team with the White House hoped to facilitate a scene that would bolster Trump’s image among African-Americans. Instead, they say they were left angry when Rocky failed to thank Trump or those around him.

The – behind the truth there are always many facts that …

On July 12 Trump traveled to Cleveland, where Lanier and Scott said they saw the president and discussed Rocky’s case. Scott also said he and Trump talked about the situation in a subsequent phone conversation in which the president asked, “What do you think about this Rocky guy?”
“He’s a good guy. It’s a good move,” Scott responded.

Seven days after the Cleveland trip, Trump weighed in from the Oval Office as he fielded questions from reporters.

“Many, many members of the African-American community have called me, friends of mine, and said, ‘Could you help?’” Trump said. “So I personally don’t know A$AP Rocky, but I can tell you he has a lot of support from the African-American community in this country.”

Ahahahaha. Well, I suppose two black men does seem like many, many black people to the Goiter-in-Chief but it could be his reflex need to lie about many, many things.

What was I saying?

But by this point, it seems tension had built up between the rapper’s associates and the Trump allies. Scott and Lanier believed Damien Granderson, an attorney working for Rocky, was too “nonchalant” about the news that Trump was lobbying on the rapper’s behalf. Lanier said he “snapped” at Granderson and cursed him out.

“I was like, man, you ungrateful motherf***ers, you. I can’t believe you. … We didn’t ask you guys for nothing other than for you guys to be grateful,” Lanier said he told him. “We just want you guys to be appreciative and say thank you.”

I. I’m at a loss for words.

Update: Commentator J- has correctly identified the original reason for this ruckus:

So Lanier and Scott wanted to use A$AP Rocky to raise their standing with Trump as the guys who bring him grateful black people.

Dear God it’s all so embarrassing.