Rapper and activist Killer Mike appeared on The View today, just one week after he won three Grammy awards and was very publicly handcuffed and detained by police backstage at that ceremony for a misdemeanor related to a physical altercation. Though he briefly spoke about that legal incident, declaring it was all “water under the bridge,” it was his exchange later with co-host Sunny Hostin about his political affiliations that actually created some tension during his visit.
The Atlanta-based musician, whose real name is Michael Render, has brought attention to police brutality, racial issues and systemic inequality through his political work. When co-host Alyssa Farah Griffin asked Mike why he’s hesitant to endorse President Joe Biden for a second term, he said that he’s currently more focused on hyper-local politics, and encouraged others to do the same, criticizing the “soap opera of federal elections.”
He added that he’s currently most concerned with the next mayoral election in Atlanta, saying, “My most important election is going to be in about a year-and-a-half for who’s my mayor going to be? I think Andre Dickens is doing a great job around housing in Atlanta and I don’t want that to be lost.
“Even though we have a Republican governor, Brian Kemp, I have a good relationship with him, I like what he’s done with Georgia business,” Mike continued, adding, “He brought back the Hope Scholarship and expanded it, so if you’re a kid in Georgia, you’re poor, you got a B average, you can go to college for free, or you can go to a trade school… even in that case, I have said, ‘OK, this governor is doing a good job.'”
Hostin then spoke up, saying, “You lost me a little bit with your support of Kemp,” but Mike interrupted her so his words and message didn’t get misconstrued, saying, “Not support of Kemp, that’s… that’s some misinformation. You can not like me, but don’t lie on me—”
Hostin asked, “So you don’t support him, you like his policies?”
Mike clarified, “He’s the governor of my state so I have to be involved with him. Because I can’t divorce myself. If you criticize someone, don’t lie.
“Don’t say that I didn’t support [Stacey] Abrams, because I did,” he said. “Don’t say that I don’t support Democrats, because I do…But If someone is in the King’s seat, I’m not gonna not have dinner with the King on behalf of my people.”
Hostin went on to point out several of Biden’s achievements which have benefited Black Americans, which Mike applauded, and added that there are many things that the Biden administration is doing that he supports. Still, he maintained that his priority is supporting and participating in local politics.
“Follow the people you like. Hyper local! Hyper local!” he said as the segment ended.
The View airs weekdays at 11/10c on ABC.