Black Atlanta Business Owner Was Blindsided by Trump Campaign Event Held at His Barber Shop

ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) — A Black business owner in Atlanta said he feels betrayed and blindsided.

The Trump campaign hosted an event at Rocky’s Barbershop on Wednesday, the day before the highly anticipated presidential debate.

Owner Rocky Jones said that’s not what he signed up for and now he’s speaking out.

“I’m really proud of my business,” Jones said.

Jones said he welcomes customers from all walks of life and backgrounds.

“Mind my own business, serve and give haircuts to the community and have good conversations; it was never about politics,” Jones said.

He said his business had never been the site of a political event until Wednesday, when prominent Republicans gathered the day before the presidential debate in Atlanta.

Former President Trump spoke at one point during Wednesday’s event.

“I feel like I’ve been betrayed,” Jones said.

A few days before the debate, Jones said someone he considered a friend contacted him about being the host site for a small Black business roundtable.

Jones said it was never intended to be a political event.

Jones added that he also never heard from a representative of the Trump campaign.

Jones said the timing of the event did not suggest it would be a political event.

“Honestly, I hadn’t thought about it. It’s just that once you say that small black businesses give back to the community, it’s like you’re saying, ‘OK, I’m doing it,'” Jones said. “You just have to know that it’s election season and the timing seems a little suspicious. »

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Jones warns other business owners to exercise a healthy dose of skepticism.

“Even though I trusted this person, I didn’t do the research I should have done. Now I tell everyone to pay attention to these calls,” Jones said.

Atlanta News First has reached out to the Trump campaign. They acknowledged our request but were unable to get us a response via airtime.

Jones said he was compensated for the two hours he had to close his business for the event, but adds he is now ready to return the money.

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