Jelly Roll 'doesn't care' about backlash after greeting Trump at UFC: 'It was powerful, dude'

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: When life throws you a chance to meet the president of the United States, you grab it - no matter who’s in office. At least, that’s how Jelly Roll sees it.

The “Son of a Sinner” star found himself rubbing elbows with some big names last month: Donald Trump, Elon Musk, and Kid Rock. The meet-up went down at UFC 309, and a video of Jelly greeting the president-elect made waves online.

Now, if this had been any other president, it might’ve been brushed off as just another celeb saying hi to a political leader. But with Trump involved, his critics weren't going to let this one slide. People came for Jelly Roll like he'd just declared himself the poster boy for MAGA.

Of course, saying hello doesn’t mean you’re a card-carrying supporter. But it seems Jelly Roll got accused of being a Trump voter faster than you can say “cancel culture.”

The irony is that the guy can’t even vote. As a convicted felon, Tennessee law keeps him out of the ballot box, according to Whiskey Riff.

Jelly Roll sets the record straight on meeting Trump

So why would Jelly take the time to meet Trump? The country star broke it all down during a recent chat on 'The Dumb Blonde' podcast with his wife, Bunnie Xo. He made one thing clear: “There’s not a chance in hell I’m not going to meet the president-elect.”

Jelly doubled down, saying he’d do the same for Joe Biden if given the chance: “If I would have got a call to meet Joe Biden at any point, I would have stopped what I was doing to go meet him. That’s the active president. I wouldn’t have cared what people thought, even what I think about his policies.” 

He also got real about his relationship with politics - or lack thereof.

“I don’t hide behind the ‘I’m not political’ stuff. I’m not political,” Jelly admitted. “I’m also one of the old-school dudes. I like to talk about things I’m passionate about. With that, I like to know about them. I don’t know enough about politics to act like I know anything that’s going on, what anybody’s standing for policy-wise. I genuinely don’t know.”

Growing up, politics wasn’t a major topic in his house. But there was one lesson his parents made sure to teach him: “Respect our president.” Jelly remembered, “My father was real big on, ‘You don’t disrespect…that’s the hardest job in the world, respect whoever has it.’”

That respect was on full display when Trump entered the UFC arena. Jelly described the moment as nothing short of electric: “I’ve had some bone-chilling moments…I don’t care who you are. If you were in that building, the hair on your skin would have stood up. And you looked and all you’re watching is the President-Elect who just got elected 8 days ago walking in with his entire cabinet with him almost.”

The moment Trump made it personal with Jelly Roll

For Jelly, it wasn’t about politics—it was about witnessing history. "It was powerful, dude. I don’t care which side of the aisle you’re on. When Trump walks right by me I’m like, ‘He don’t know who I am.’ So right then I was like, ‘Well, damn, I’m not gonna get to meet the president,'” he added.

UFC CEO Dana White’s team made sure Jelly got his moment. And it was one for the books. “What you don’t see in the video was he gives me the Trump point…He goes, bring it in. And I start walking over, I’m like, my heart is…” Jelly trailed off, reliving the adrenaline rush.

When the two finally met, Jelly took a risk by patting Trump on the shoulder.

"I go to shake his hand, I put my hand on his shoulder, which right then I was like, I hope Secret Service don’t choke me out or something, I know you’re not supposed to touch him. And he puts his hand on my shoulder…and he’s like, ‘I love Save Me.’ He’s like, ‘You’re doing incredible things.'”

For Jelly, it was a surreal moment - and one he doesn’t regret for a second. “Meeting President Trump was cool,” he admitted. “Ultimately I don’t really care, any blowback I get about it. The truth is, it was really cool to meet the president.”