Trump rebukes Swedish leader over US rapper’s assault charge

DONALD TRUMP has publicly rebuked Sweden’s prime minister after the American rapper A$AP Rocky was charged with assaulting a man in Stockholm despite the US president’s demand for his release.

Mr Trump said he was “very disappointed” that Stefan Löfven, the Swedish leader, had not moved to stop the charges, tweeting: “Treat Americans fairly!”

A$AP Rocky, whose real name is Rakim Mayers, is accused with two members of his entourage of assaulting the man in the country’s capital after performing at Smash festival.

Prosecutors claim the alleged victim, Mustafa Jafari, was pushed to the ground, kicked and hit with a bottle in an attack that left him cut and bruised. A$AP Rocky has argued he acted in self-defence after he and his companions were followed by two men they didn’t know. US celebrities, including Kim Kardashian West and her husband, the rapper Kanye West who is a supporter of Mr Trump, have called for A$AP Rocky’s release. Melania Trump, the president’s wife, has also taken up the cause.

On Saturday Mr Trump tweeted that he had talked to Mr Löfven about A$AP

‘Very disappointed in Prime Minister Stefan Löfven. Sweden has let our African American Community down’

Rocky’s case and offered to “personally vouch for his bail”. Sweden does not have a bail system.

But this week Swedish prosecutors announced they would bring charges against the Grammy-nominated 30-year-old rapper and two other men.

Mr Trump tweeted in response: “Very disappointed in Prime Minister Stefan Löfven for being unable to act. Sweden has let our African American Community down in the United States.

“I watched the tapes of A$AP Rocky, and he was being followed and harassed by troublemakers. Treat Americans fairly!”

He added: “Give A$AP Rocky his FREEDOM. We do so much for Sweden but it doesn’t seem to work the other way around. Sweden should focus on its real crime problem!”

A spokesman for Mr Löfven was circumspect about Mr Trump’s complaints. The prime minister had, when talking to Mr Trump, “made certain to emphasise the complete independence of the Swedish judicial system, prosecutors and courts”, he said.

Other Swedish politicians issued more forceful rebuttals.

“So, what is it you do for us MR President?,” MEP Fredrick Federley tweeted.

Former prime minister Carl Bildt tweeted: “Political interference in the process is distinctly off limits! Clear?”