President Donald Trump weighed in on the arrest of Jussie Smollett Thursday, calling out the actor for “racist and dangerous comments.”
The “Empire” actor was taken into police custody Thursday morning on a charge of filing a false police report and disorderly conduct. During a press conference shortly after his arrest, Chicago police said Smollett set up a hate crime hoax because he was “dissatisfied with his salary” on the Fox show.
Trump addressed the incident on Twitter. He wrote, “@JussieSmollett — What about MAGA and the tens of millions of people you insulted with your racist and dangerous comments!? #MAGA.”
When Smollett initially reported the incident, he alleged that the attackers yelled “MAGA,” a reference to Trump’s campaign slogan “Make America Great Again.” Smollett also claimed his attackers poured bleach on him and put a noose around his neck.
On Jan. 31, Trump was asked about the alleged attack and said, “I can tell you that it’s horrible. It doesn’t get worse.” But his son, Donald Trump Jr., had been retweeting reports that cast doubt on Smollett’s claims.
In the initial days after Smollett alleged the attack, a number of political figures, celebrities, and LGBT organizations spoke out in defense of the actor and musician. But the veracity of Smollett’s story was quickly questioned from some figures on the right, and in recent days a number of Trump supporters have called out Democrats, activists, and the media for a perceived rush to judgment.
Police now believe that Smollett paid the two men who attacked him to help orchestrate the assault. The brothers, Olabinjo Osundairo and Abimbola Osundairo, have been cooperating with investigators.
If Smollett is found guilty of falsifying a police report, he could face time in prison.