Trump praises 'fantastic guy' Jason Aldean after CMT pulls the country star's 'Try That in a Small Town' video
- Trump threw his support behind country star Jason Aldean, joining a growing list of Republicans.
- The former president's support came after CMT pulled Aldean's "Try That In A Small Town" video.
Former President Donald Trump on Thursday threw his support behind country music star Jason Aldean, underlining how conservatives and Republicans are fired up after CMT pulled Aldean's latest video that was filmed at the site of a famous lynching.
"Jason Aldean is a fantastic guy who just came out with a great new song," Trump wrote on his social media platform, Truth, early Thursday morning. "Support Jason all the way. MAGA!!!"
According to multiple reports, CMT pulled the music video for Aldean's "Try That In A Small Town" earlier this week. The network has not expanded on the decision, but critics pointed out that it was filmed in front of the Maury County Courthouse in Columbia, Tennessee, the site of the 1927 lynching of Henry Choate, a Black teenager.
Aldean has defended his song and video in the face of criticism. The video depicts images of Black Lives Matter protests and other unrest being projected on the building as Aldean warns of what would happen if similar scenes happen in small-town America.
"Well, try that in a small town," Aldean sings. "See how far ya make it down the road. Around here, we take care of our own. You cross that line, it won't take long. For you to find out, I recommend you don't."
The country star has argued that his song does not "reference[e] race or point[t] to it- and there isn't a single video clip that isn't real news footage." Aldean said the notion of his song approved of lynchings was "not only meritless, but dangerous."
"As so many pointed out, I was present at Route 91-where so many lost their lives- and our community recently suffered another heartbreaking tragedy," Aldean wrote in a lengthy message posted on Twitter, referencing his presence during the Las Vegas mass shooting. "NO ONE, including me, wants to continue to see senseless headlines or families ripped apart."
Trump is far from the only Republican figure to throw his support behind Aldean. Aldean has been a vocal supporter of Trump. He has even performed at Mar-a-Lago's New Year's Eve party two years in a row.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, and Colorado Rep. Lauren Boebert have all rallied behind the singer and his song.
"Whenever they try and censor us, we only go stronger," Boebert wrote on Twitter, calling for a backlash against CMT. "Time for CMT to get the Bud Light treatment."
A spokesperson for CMT did not immediately respond to a request for comment.