Omarosa, who is also a former contestant on 'Celebrity Apprentice', shows photographic evidence of the president's interaction with the rapper, whom Trump allegedly called 'Uncle Tom', on the NBC show.
- Nov 8, 2018
AceShowbiz - Donald Trump has denied that he knows Lil Jon, despite the rapper's appearance in two seasons of NBC's "The Celebrity Apprentice", which Trump used to host. When asked about his history of alleged racism, including calling Jon "Uncle Tom" on the reality competition series, the president said, "I don't know who Lil Jon is."
A Yahoo News White House correspondent tried to remind Trump by saying, "He was on 'The Apprentice'." But the president still insisted that he had no idea who Jon is and denied using the racist remark, replying, "Oh, he was? OK. Oh, I see. I don't know... I would never do that, and I don't use racist remarks, and you know what, if I did, you would've known about it."
His response, of course, has set Twitter abuzz with many refusing to believe that Trump really forgot who Jon is. One of them is Omarosa Manigault Newman, who was also on "Apprentice" with Jon and is a former presidential aide for Trump's administration. Sharing pictures that prove Trump and Jon's interaction on the show, she tweeted, "Can someone at the WH show #45 this picture of @LilJon. It might help jar his memory."
Hmmmm. Can someone at the WH show #45 this picture of @LilJon. It might help jar his memory. 🤔 pic.twitter.com/EjXuJH03Br
— OMAROSA (@OMAROSA) November 7, 2018
Another mocked Trump's response as "an obvious addition to 'Who am I? Why am I here?' "
Here's Trump saying that he doesn't know who Lil Jon is even though he was on Celebrity Apprentice. pic.twitter.com/EcJ3awjxbt
— Holly Fιɢυeroα O'Reιlly (@AynRandPaulRyan) November 7, 2018
Some others responded to Trump's denial with memes while one user envisioned Jon's reaction to Trump's claim.
Trump: I don't know who @LilJon is
— Davey Downer (@womeldw) November 7, 2018
Reporter and Lil Jon: pic.twitter.com/2TtI8ZHvhY
Reporter: The President just said in a news conference that he doesn’t know who you are.
— Yoni (@OriginalYoni) November 7, 2018
Lil Jon: WHHATTT?
Reporter: I know, right? Weren’t you on The Apprentice?
Lil Jon: YEAAAAHHHHH
Reporter: *rolls eyes*
Lil Jon: OKAAAYYYY
Reporter: Oh for Christ’s sake
Jon appeared in season 11 and season 13 of "Celebrity Apprentice". Trump once referred to him as a "terrific guy" and "great friend." Another Twitter user pointed out that the president called Jon "fabulous" in a 2012 tweet.
But he doesn't know who Lil Jon is? #Midterms2018https://t.co/Jxcuz6JBHw
— Erin Faye 🌠(@stardropz) November 7, 2018
The reporter brought up Jon during a media conference at the White House to ask Trump about an incident during the taping of "Celebrity Apprentice" in 2013. He allegedly called Jon "Uncle Tom" after the latter donned an Uncle Sam suit to promote a hair product during an advertising challenge.
— LILJON (@LilJon) October 15, 2016
Jon confirmed this in his 2016 tweet. "When this 'Uncle Tom' incident happened on Celebrity Apprentice in the boardroom several of my castmates and I addressed Mr. Trump immediately when we heard the comment," the "Turn Down for What" hitmaker wrote at the time. "I can't say if he knew what he was actually saying or not, but he did stop using that term once we explained it's offensiveness."