Trump's Culture Quake

Rap stars Snoop Dogg, Nelly, and Soulja Boy set off a cultural earthquake when the trio agreed to participate in President Donald J. Trump's inaugural festivities. The Black lifestyle magazine, "Essence," noted that A-list celebrities shunned the Orange Menace when he was first elected. "But eight years later, the landscape has shifted." From tech bros in Silicon Valley to top talent in the sports and entertainment worlds, Trump is now attracting a new circle of fans. Suddenly, it's cool to be MAGA, and it's knocking Democrats sideways.

Trump's Culture Quake
Illustration: Lev Kaplan

New York Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio Cortez is apoplectic over Trump's new culture cachet. Last week, during an appearance on "The Weekly Show with Jon Stewart," the Democratic Socialist lamented, "All of these people that were scared before about being associated with [Trump], from the most common basic level to the most elite level, they’re all-in now."

Snoop Dogg has suffered particular abuse from fanatical Anti-Trumpers. Hosts on the morning chat show, "The View," slammed him for being a "trained seal." On CNN, he was denounced for allegedly betraying the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr.

For his part, Snoop has nothing but love for all of the haters. On Sunday, he took to Instagram to calmly advise his critics, "Get your life right. Stop worrying about mine." With an estimated fortune of $100 million, the rap mogul is what Trump might call, "winning."