Russell Simmons Pens Open Letter to Trump: "You're Smarter and Certainly More Loving Than You Let On"

Def Jam co-founder Russell Simmons has penned an open letter urging old friend Donald Trump to "stop the bullshit," via Global Grind. Simmons, who chairs the Foundation for Ethnic Understanding, says Trump's "disparaging" comments towards Muslims belie his "generous, kind" character, citing a recent visit the pair reportedly took to New York's Islamic Cultural Center. Simmons then acknowledges parallels "between [Trump's] rap and Hitler’s" and describes the presidential candidate as "a one-man wrecking ball willing to destroy our nation’s foundation of freedom." Read extracts of the letter below.

My friends, both Muslims and Jews, are saying there are so many comparisons between your rap and Hitler’s, and I cannot disagree with them, Donald. You can’t possibly want your kids or your wife Melania (all of whom I know and respect) to live with that. You are a born leader, who is set to possibly win the nomination of your party, but don’t compromise what I know is in your heart to do it. You are a generous, kind man who has built a career on negotiating deals where everybody wins. Now, you seem like a one-man wrecking ball willing to destroy our nation’s foundation of freedom.

Stop the bullshit. Stop fueling fires of hate. Don’t feed into the rhetoric created by small-minded people. You’re smarter and certainly more loving then you let on. ... You have been many people’s champ in the past, but now you are becoming a major embarrassment. ...

I’ll pray that this truth will ring a bell and it will not only temper your rap, but remind you of the man you used to be. You are trying to be president of a country built on religious freedom; remember that the next time you discuss the beautiful followers of Islam. I would also like to remind you of one of my favorite quotes from the Holy Quran, “Love all men of good books equally.” The minute you target one group or one religion or immigrants, you have failed.

I wish you good luck on your path towards the White House, but as I’m sure you know, our belief systems are polar opposites on many of the issues. And I will be campaigning rigorously against you. But if you win, I might still accept an invitation to your house to straighten you up every so often.

Head to Global Grind to read the letter in full.

via Jazz Monroe