Comedian Chris Rock recently quipped that arresting former President Donald Trump would only make him more popular and boost his 2024 presidential campaign, comparing it to imprisoning the late rapper Tupac Shakur.
Speaking to the audience during the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor award ceremony, where he was honoring fellow comedian Adam Sandler, Rock said:
"Are you guys really going to arrest Trump? It is like arresting Tupac. He's just going to sell more records."
"Are you stupid? He slept with a porn star and paid off someone so his wife wouldn't find out. That's romantic."
Rock's reference to Tupac Shakur probably alluded to the late rapper's time behind bars serving eight months on a sexual assault conviction back in 1995 that he later appealed. While serving his sentence, Shakur released his album Me Against The World, which went on to sell over 3 million copies.
An audio clip of Rock's remarks was dishonestly characterized as "BREAKING LEAKED AUDIO" by Benny Johnson, the Chief Creative Officer (CCO) at conservative organization Turning Point USA, likely to generate support for not indicting the former president for campaign finance-related crimes.
The audio clip is included below.
Many responded to Rock's joke with quips and observations of their own.
Rock's comments come amidst a pending indictment by a New York grand jury investigating whether hush-money payments made by Trump to adult film actress Stormy Daniels should be considered an illegal campaign expense.
Trump earlier claimed without evidence that he would be arrested on Tuesday, March 21, and has encouraged his supporters to "protest" and "take back our country" if he is indicted.
While Rock's comments were meant to be comedic, some right-wing figures have speculated that a Trump indictment could actually help boost his popularity and chances of winning the presidency in 2024.
Trump loyalist Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene tweeted that "these idiots are sealing their own fate in 2024 because the silent majority has two feelings right now about the current regime. Fear and anger."
Let's hope she's wrong.
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