Wow! Donald TrumpThe campaign wasted no time in setting the record straight amid allegations from an Atlanta barbershop owner. Ahead of last week’s first presidential debate, Donnie held a political event in Rocky’s Barber Shop.
The June 26 event involved Trump answering questions from a panel at the store. Owner Rocky Jones counted local outlet 11 Alive that the Trump campaign misled him about how his venue would be used. The event took place ahead of the viral first presidential debate on June 27.
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Barber shop owner says his place is no place for politics
Jones said he believed the event was a roundtable discussion for black small business owners, not a political rally. Since the event, the barbershop owner — who has been in business for 17 years — says he has received “some appeals, some backlash (and) some angry people.” Furthermore, he emphasized for 11 Alive that his barber shop was no place for politics.
“I have no involvement in politics. We don’t even talk about politics in my barber shop. It’s all sports. World Cup, soccer, baseball, basketball — politics is not what I do. I recommend everyone vote, but that’s your business. ‘You know, I don’t tell you what to do,’” Rocky Jones said.
The barbershop owner also explained that the event began with a text message and then a follow-up phone call while he was out of the country, according to 11 Alive. He claimed he believed it would be a small, “private” gathering. Then, politicians like Ben Carson showed up, and Trump called.
“I’m like, why is the former president calling someone in my barber shop? This has nothing to do with small black businesses,” Rocky said.
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11 Alive first shared the barbershop owner’s allegations on June 28. However, when the story gained traction on July 2, representatives from the Trump campaign shut down the story.
Your Black Media Director, Janiyah Thomasreleased a statement and the contract that Rocky Jones reportedly signed before the event.
“We had a contract in place making it clear that this was an agreement with the campaign, and payments were made to the business owner,” the statement said.
According to the contract images, both parties consented to a political event taking place at the store. The second paragraph states, “…The Owner is willing to lease to DJTFP24, and DJTFP24 desires to lease from the Owner, the Owner’s premises and grounds, as approved by the Owner, located at…for the purpose of DJTFP24 holding a political event on the terms and conditions set forth herein.”
Their agreement set the rental period from 12 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. on June 26. Rocky Jones signed the paperwork on June 24, and campaign treasurer Bradley Crate added his signature on June 26 at 11:45 a.m.
Scroll down to view contract documentation.
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What do you think, roommates?