Amongst the current angst and drama surrounding the presidential election results, Ice Cube is standing resolutely behind his decision to collaborate with President Donald Trump‘s campaign for the rapper’s Contract With Black America. However, despite his steadfastness, it appears that the widespread criticism from the Black community over his decision has, in some measure, left him upset and confused.
Ice Cube took to Twitter on Nov. 5 to let his feelings be known on the matter with a dismissive rant toward his Black detractors.
“Let me get this straight, I get the president of the United States to agree to put over half a trillion dollars of capital in the Black Community (without an endorsement) and N– are mad at me? [laughing emojis]…have a nice life,” he tweeted.
Twitter users did not react well to the rapper’s tweet, including journalist Roland Martin, who gave Ice Cube a lengthy takedown. Martin interviewed the rapper last month in an exchange in which he grilled him about Trump’s “Platinum Plan” and whether it actually represented any concrete proposals.
Martin was eager in the one-way conversation to refute Cube’s claim. “The only problem @icecube is that you didn’t get Trump to put $500 billion of capital in Black communities. It’s a lie. It’s ONE LINE on the cover sheet of his so-called Platinum Plan. No specifics. NOTHING. Bruh, you got played. “
Martin added, “Come on @icecube, you at least gotta give Black folks enough credit to know that we know when we are getting played. All Jared and Trump wanted was to be able to say you co-signed the plan. They got exactly what they wanted. What did we get? A one sheet plan of nothing.”
He continued, in a 10-part Twitter critique that came off as a “reality check” of sorts that culminated in a final referendum of Martin’s disapproval and distrust of Trump’s plan.
“Look @icecube, I get your intentions. But all of the data – lack of ANY endorsement by top Black REPUBLICAN business leaders and NO outreach to ANY Black media outlets – proves that $500 billion commitment is as trusted as Trump’s wedding vows. They are worthless.”
It is uncertain if the outcome of the election will cause Ice Cube to reevaluate his stance, but for the time being it appears that he preferred to sit on the fence this time around.
Prior to sending his Nov. 5 tweet, he posted a comic featuring a group of actual sheep voting between a wolf and a lion, communicating the idea that neither Trump nor Biden is a good option for the people. A Twitter user asked Ice Cube, “So did you endorse the Wolf or the Lion?” He replied, “Neither one…I’ve always endorsed the sheeple.”
