While many mourn the loss of beloved songstress Aretha Franklin, some are a little confused by a statement about her passing that Donald Trump read aloud on Thursday. (The fact that he read a statement –that he clearly did not write – instead of speaking from the heart will be left alone for now because there are bigger questions at play here.)
Speaking on Franklin’s death, Trump said: “I want to begin today by expressing my condolences to the family of a person I knew well. She worked for me on numerous occasions, she was terrific, Aretha Franklin on her passing. She’s brought joy to millions of lives and her extraordinary legacy will thrive and inspire many generations to come. She was given a great gift from God, her voice, and she used it well.”
Pres. Trump on the passing of Aretha Franklin: "She's brought joy to millions of lives and her extraordinary legacy will thrive and inspire many generations to come. She was given a great gift from God, her voice, and she used it well." https://t.co/O7HXedLRq3 pic.twitter.com/PyQ5Uw4nRe— ABC News (@ABC) August 16, 2018
But the question is… what were these ‘numerous’ partnerships or jobs Trump is referring to? Speculations have begun to run rampant across social media sites.
No, seriously, when did Aretha Franklin do something that could be described as "working for" Donald Trump?— Dara Lind (@DLind) August 16, 2018
(Not quite clear what the "worked for him" means, but I was looking for times when they interacted, and all I can figure is that she was paid to sing at an event.)— Chris Geidner (@chrisgeidner) August 16, 2018
https://t.co/eGO3bZ2v3L / Franklin was also at the opening of the Trump hotel in NYC in 1997. https://t.co/4RXhaAF4Qo— Chris Geidner (@chrisgeidner) August 16, 2018
OBAMAS ON ARETHA: "Graced with a glimpse of the divine."
CLINTONS ON ARETHA: "One of America's greatest national treasures."
TRUMP ON ARETHA: "She worked for me."#ArethaFranklin— Peter Daou (@peterdaou) August 16, 2018
Trump is a megalomaniac who has to make everything about himself. She may have sang at something he was vaguely involved with once… He doesn’t even have enough class to pay a tribute without turning the spotlight on himself. He’s an A1 arsehole.— Laurence Akers (@AkersOfWords) August 16, 2018
According to LA Times reporter Eli Stokols, the White House has yet to respond to inquires concerning Trump’s claim of frequently working with the famous singer. It has since come to light that Franklin previously performed at one of Trump’s casinos, though it remains unclear whether he hired her directly for the event, The Guardian reports. Franklin also performed at the opening of Trump’s International Hotel and Tower in 1997. However, this seems, as of now, to be the extent of the relationship.
