Jelly Roll Shares His Political Views While Making Jokes About Trump
Jelly Roll spoke candidly about his political beliefs following criticism he received for joking about President Donald Trump while guest hosting Jimmy Kimmel Live!
The 41-year-old country music artist delivered a heartfelt monologue on his final night on the ABC talk show on Thursday, August 27, where he addressed questions regarding his political stance.
“It’s amusing; before this week, everyone thought I was MAGA, and now they see me as some sort of liberal snowflake,” he remarked. “I suppose I’m just not accustomed to others projecting their views onto me, especially when a few years ago, I was so overweight you could project a movie onto me.”
Jelly Roll then shared a clip of a conservative commentator criticizing him for his Trump jokes made earlier that week, while also highlighting the singer’s past praise for the UFC Freedom 250 event at the White House in June.
“Just because I watched a fight on TV doesn’t mean I endorse everything this administration does, just like hosting Jimmy Kimmel’s show doesn’t mean I share all of Jimmy Kimmel’s political views,” he explained.
He further stated, “Sure, I lean left on some issues, but like many people, I’m generally centrist. I’m a Christian, a country music artist, a farmer, and a bow hunter, and I prefer to catch most of my food with a stick and a string.”
Jelly Roll also reflected on his controversial comments made during an interview backstage at the 2026 Grammys in February, when he was questioned about his thoughts on “what’s happening in the country right now,” referring to the political landscape, to which he replied, “Not really.”
On Thursday, he acknowledged that he “had a microphone and didn’t use it properly.”
“So I’m going to attempt to do the right thing right now,” he continued. “Human dignity isn’t tied to any political party. Compassion isn’t exclusive to the left wing, and mercy isn’t restricted to the right wing. Pain and healing transcend partisanship. The suffering of hearts is more vital than polling numbers, and there are no borders or boundaries for broken families.”
Jelly Roll also paid tribute to his father, Horace “Buddy” DeFord, a United States Marine Corps veteran, who passed away in 2019.
“This might seem like a bold statement, but in honor of him, and everyone who has ever served and continues to serve this country, I will always shake the hand of the sitting president when asked,” he articulated. “My father would have been upset had I done otherwise.”
“I take pride in having shaken the hand of the president of the United States. I also take pride in living in a country where I can joke about him,” he added. “Isn’t that part of what makes being an American great? The democracy, the freedom of speech.”
He emphasized, “I will shake the hand of any president in office because a handshake isn’t an endorsement. A conversation isn’t allegiance. And a joke isn’t a political statement. For someone in my position, taking a photo with a political figure, or anyone else for that matter, doesn’t indicate agreement or disagreement with their policies or politics. More often than not, I f***ing don’t.”
