Clay Aiken: Trump is racist, ‘I was a f---ing dumb---’ for defending him
Singer and former congressional candidate Clay Aiken said on Twitter Tuesday that he felt dumb for defending the president.
Aiken said that he was “a f---ing dumb---” for defending President Donald Trump and believing Trump is “not actually racist.”
“I’ve always thought he would be a dumpster fire as a president, and I was right about that,” Aiken continued in another tweet. “I just didn’t think he was racist. #wrong”
Remember all those times I defended @realDonaldTrump and believed he was not actually racist? Well... I am a f*****g dumbass. #imsorry
— Clay Aiken (@clayaiken) August 15, 2017
Last month, Aiken said he saw similarities between the Donald Trump he got to know on “Celebrity Apprentice” and Trump’s style as president during a visit to The News & Observer to be a guest on The N&O’s political podcast, Domecast. Aiken, who launched his musical career as a contestant on “American Idol,” ran unsuccessfully for Congress in North Carolina in 2014 as a Democrat.
TBC... I've always thought he would be a dumpster fire as a president, and I was right about that. I just didn't think he was racist. #wrong https://t.co/6ec0Qm0WxW
— Clay Aiken (@clayaiken) August 15, 2017
At that time, while Aiken said opposed many of Trump’s actions as president, he still respected him personally and said he’s a “nice guy.” When Aiken launched his campaign for Congress, he said Trump was the second person he called – after former N.C. Gov. Jim Hunt, his “political idol.”
Insider editor Colin Campbell contributed to this report.
This story was originally published August 15, 2017 at 9:33 PM with the headline "Clay Aiken: Trump is racist, ‘I was a f---ing dumb---’ for defending him."