Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs Carl Risch (R) leaves the Ministry for Foreign Affairs after he met with US rapper Asap Rocky at the Kronoberg custody in Stockholm, Sweden, on July 19, 2019.ERIK SIMANDER/AFP/Getty Images
The Swedish prime minister, Stefan Lofven, told President Donald Trump in a phone call Saturday that rapper A$AP Rocky, who has been detained in Sweden on an assault charge, will not get any special treatment, according to a statement from the Swedish government.
Trump had sought Rocky’s release after being pressed by American celebrities, including rapper Kanye West.
Toni Eriksson, Lofven’s press secretary, told The Associated Press that the phone call lasted about 20 minutes and was “friendly and respectful.”
Lofven was said to have “underlined that in Sweden everyone is equal before the law and that the government cannot and will not attempt to influence the legal proceedings,” AP reported.
Trump said on Twitter on Saturday that he had a “very good call” with Lofven and that he told the prime minister that Rocky was not a flight risk. Trump said he would “personally vouch” for Rocky’s bail if he were released. He said Lofven had told him Rocky would be “treated fairly.”
“Our teams will be talking further, and we agreed to speak again in the next 48 hours,” Trump said.
Trump, whose recent attacks on four congresswomen of color were condemned as racist by the House of Representatives, has said that his African American friends had asked him to intervene in Rocky’s case.
Rocky, whose real name is Rakim Mayers, is accused of assaulting a man June 30 while on tour in Stockholm. He has been detained as the authorities investigate.
On Friday, a court in Stockholm approved a request from prosecutors to detain Rocky for at least six more days. Another hearing, on July 25, will determine whether he should be detained further.
Sweden’s government has faced accusations of racism and human rights abuses for the rapper’s detention. There has been strong opposition from celebrities including Justin Bieber, Diddy and Tyler, the Creator, who said in a tweet, “No more Sweden for me, ever.”
Rep. Adriano Espaillat, D-N.Y., said in a joint statement with other House members that “the incident serves as yet another example of the racially motivated focus and prejudices young men of color are subjected to around the world.”
Rocky has said he acted in self-defense.
In a clip posted on Instagram, he and his entourage repeatedly tell two men to stop following them. In a video clip published by Aftonbladet, a Swedish newspaper, Rocky appears to lift one of the men off his feet and throw him to the ground. Another clip posted by TMZ appeared to show the rapper and two members of his entourage punch and kick the man.