Russell Simmons, the founder of Def Jam Records and several powerful fashion lines, wrote an open letter to his old friend Donald Trump, asking him to “quit the bullsh*t” while urging him to not feed “the rhetoric created by small-minded people.”
Simmons said that he and Trump have been friends for nearly thirty years. The presidential candidate would attend Simmons’ concerts, fly him on his private jets, and he even stayed in Trump’s Florida home. While Simmons expressed regret that his comments may have ruined his friendship with Trump, he felt obligated to speak up and attempt to reawaken his friend’s good nature and generosity.
“You are a born leader, who is set to possibly win the nomination of your party, but don’t compromise what I know is in your heart to do it,” Simmons said. “You are a generous, kind man who has built a career on negotiating deals where everybody wins. Now, you seem like a one-man wrecking ball willing to destroy our nation’s foundation of freedom.”
I had to write this… To My Old Friend @realDonaldTrump, Stop The Bullshit. https://t.co/xbifPxpY4m
— Russell Simmons (@UncleRUSH) December 9, 2015
Simmons’s open letter comes after the billionaire’s latest remarks regarding the ban on all Muslims attempting to enter the United States, which many feel blatantly violates the U.S. Constitution. In the letter, Simmons recalls taking the real estate mogul to a mosque soon after the statement.
Do you remember, not too long ago, when you made disparaging statements about the Muslim community and I put you on the phone with myself and Rabbi Schneier and we had a meeting with the Chairman of the Islamic Society of North America? You were very gracious and you even came to the Islamic Cultural Center of New York on 96th Street. At that time, you walked into that house of worship and you felt all the love vibrating in that mosque. Try to remember how sweet and enlightened my good friend, Imam Shamsi Ali was, and all of the people you met with.
Simmons also asked Trump to stop “fueling the fires of hate” and “pandering to small-minded bigots.” He then urged him to stop playing to “the cheap seats,” while condemning Trump’s discriminatory and bigoted ideas.
“I wish you good luck on your path towards the White House, but as I’m sure you know, our belief systems are polar opposites on many of the issues. And I will be campaigning rigorously against you,” Simmons said. “But if you win, I might still accept an invitation to your house to straighten you up every so often.”
Featured image via the New York Daily News
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