A few jokes about Donald Trump have turned into a political fight for Jelly Roll over a joke. Florida Rep. Jimmy Patronis took aim at the singer after his late-night routine mocked the president’s weight, declaring that the musician no longer has a welcome mat waiting in his Florida Panhandle district.
Florida Republican Jimmy Patronis slams Jelly Roll over his joke about Donald Trump’s weight
The controversy started Monday on Jimmy Kimmel Live, where Jelly Roll appeared as guest host. The country-rap star, who recently said he had shed more than 300 pounds, compared that weight loss to “an entire Donald Trump.” He also delivered a crude punchline involving Trump’s fitness and joked about the president’s approval rating. “Based on his approval rating, it seems like most of the country wants to do the same thing,” he said.
Patronis responded Wednesday through X, where he announced that Jelly Roll was “100% not welcomed to Florida’s panhandle.” Jelly Roll did not back away from the material. On Tuesday’s program, he defended the decision to poke fun at the president, arguing that anyone holding the nation’s highest office should be able to take a joke.
He then expanded on his point, saying presidents should be able to handle jokes while also dealing with issues such as gas prices, health care and international conflicts. “Any U.S. president should be able to handle a few jokes,” Jelly Roll said, before adding that presidents should also be able to handle “gas prices, healthcare, and the occasional international conflict.”
The backlash also turned toward Patronis after he declared Jelly Roll unwelcome in Florida’s Panhandle. Social media users questioned the congressman’s decision to weigh in on an entertainer’s comedy routine. One user wrote, “Florida GOP letting their leftist flags fly this week. Yesterday they were pushing identity politics, today going full cancel culture over a joke that hurt their feelings.”
Former Florida state Rep. Joel Rudman also criticized Patronis, writing, “Does tough talking Jimmy know there was a drag queen show in his very own district over Christmas? Of course not, he doesn’t live here!” Another user, Chris Nelson, mocked the situation by writing, “Republicans war on the Billboard charts continues. This time Congressman Jimmy Patronis doesn’t want Jelly Roll performing for some reason.”
Patronis’ response also drew attention because he had previously welcomed Jelly Roll to Florida. In a June 2024 post on X, the congressman invited the singer to perform at Gulf Coast Jam, writing, “How bout it @JellyRoll615 Welcome to @GulfCoastJam!”
Originally reported by Rishabh Shandilya on Mandatory.
