An Atlanta barbershop owner, Rocky Jones, reported a significant drop in business following an unexpected campaign event for former President Donald Trump at his establishment. The event, held on Wednesday, took place a day before Trump’s debate with President Joe Biden on CNN’s Atlanta stage. Known as the Black American Business Leader Barbershop Roundtable, the gathering at Rocky’s Barbershop featured a surprise phone call from Trump himself.
Rocky Jones shared with local news outlet 11 Alive that his barbershop has seen a decrease in customer traffic since the event. “We had some calls Thursday. We definitely got some calls, some backlash, some angry people that don’t know me and I have to deal with that,” Jones said. He emphasized his lack of political involvement, explaining that he believed the event was intended to support small Black-owned businesses.
“I thought it was going to be something real private,” Jones said. “I’m thinking about Black businesses in Atlanta, small Black businesses in Atlanta. And I’m like, ‘Ok, so when are we gonna start talking about this?’” He was taken aback when Trump phoned in. “I’m like, why is the ex-president calling somebody in my barbershop? This has nothing to do with small Black businesses,” he added.
Jones expressed feeling “betrayed” by how the event unfolded, stating that no one mentioned it would be political when coordinating it. He also claimed he never spoke directly to a Trump campaign representative. However, a Trump campaign source told Newsweek that Jones signed an agreement and received payment for hosting the event. Newsweek reviewed a copy of the agreement, signed by shop “owner” Javier Jones and Bradley Crate from the Trump campaign, which detailed a payment of $4,800 for renting Rocky’s Barbershop for two-and-a-half hours “for the purpose of DJTFP24 [Donald J. Trump for President 2024] holding a political event.”
Despite being compensated to close his shop for the event, Jones told Atlanta News First that he plans to return the money. The Trump team released the contract, demonstrating that the owner of Rocky’s Barbershop was aware of the event’s political nature.
Thoughts?
The business owner signed an agreement with the Trump campaign and received payment for the time spent in his location for this event.
See the contract below: https://t.co/GntRdc38rb pic.twitter.com/cmcZmu1UFH
— Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) June 30, 2024
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