Snoop Dogg performs at Trump inauguration, faces backlash

On January 20, 2025By Littum

Some Snoop Dogg fans are ready to drop him like he’s hot off a controversial performance.

The rapper, 53, appeared at an event in Washington, DC on Friday where cryptocurrency leaders celebrated the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump.

The inaugural Crypto Ball, held at the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium, billed itself on its website as an event “intended to honor the 60th presidential inauguration, America’s first ‘crypto-president’, President-elect Donald J. Trump, his incoming cabinet and administration.”

The event did not feature an appearance by the president-elect himself, but Trump’s would-be crypto czar David Sacks served as emcee for the gala.

On social media, Trump critics were outraged by the “Drop It Like It’s Hot” rapper’s attendance at the Crypto Ball ahead of Monday’s swearing-in ceremony.

“Time to throw @SnoopDogg in the trash with the rest of Trump’s white supremacist rebel allies,” said an X post.

“I deleted all Snoop dogg songs from my playlists. I blocked him from my accounts,” wrote another X user.

USA TODAY has reached out to representatives for Snoop Dogg for comment.

Many critics accused Snoop Dogg of hypocrisy, pointing to a 2017 clip in which the rapper said he would “roast” any artist willing to perform for Trump at his inauguration.

The rapper has also previously spoken negatively about Trump. In a 2020 interview, he stated that although he had never voted before, he would run in the election that year because he wanted Trump out of the White House.

“I think I’m going to get out and vote because I can’t stand to see this punk in office another year,” he told Big Boy’s Neighborhood on Real 92.3.

But Snoop Dogg later praised Trump in a 2024 interview with the Sunday Timesand says he has “nothing but love and respect” for the former president.

“Donald Trump? He has done nothing wrong to me,” he said. “He has only done great things for me.”

In recent days, country singer Carrie Underwood has also come under fire for announcing that she will perform at Trump’s inauguration on Monday.

But Whoopi Goldberg defended Underwood on “The View,” telling viewers, “I stand behind her. If I think I have the right to decide to perform somewhere, I think they have the same right. So I’m have to support (her).”

Cast: Douglas Gillison, Suzanne McGee and Michelle Price, Reuters; Rasha Ali, USA TODAY