Trump lashes out at Sweden: 'Give A$AP Rocky his freedom'

President Trump on Thursday forcefully objected to Sweden's decision to pursue charges against rapper A$AP Rocky, whose case the president has taken an interest in after it was raised by Kanye West and Kim Kardashian West.

The president tweeted that he was "very disappointed" in Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Löfven, who said over the weekend he would not intervene in the case despite a phone call from Trump.

"Sweden has let our African American Community down in the United States," Trump tweeted. "I watched the tapes of A$AP Rocky, and he was being followed and harassed by troublemakers. Treat Americans fairly! #FreeRocky"

"Give A$AP Rocky his FREEDOM," Trump said in a subsequent tweet.
 

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! #FreeRocky

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 25, 2019

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! #FreeRocky

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 25, 2019

The rapper was charged Thursday with committing an assault causing actual bodily harm during an altercation late last month in Stockholm. 

Rocky, whose real name is Rakim Mayers, and two members of his entourage allegedly assaulted Mustafa Jafari over the course of several minutes in the streets of Stockholm in an incident captured on video, according to The New York Times.

Rocky's lawyers have maintained that he acted in self-defense and that Jafar and another man had been following and harassing the rapper despite repeated requests to stop.

The punishment for the charges could include a fine or up to two years in prison.

The case quickly gained traction in the U.S. after Trump said he learned of it from first lady Melania Trump and had discussed it with Kanye West.