Donald Trump’s Campaign Asked Disgraced Fyre Fest Founder Billy McFarland for Help Wooing Rappers: Report

The Republican presidential candidate enlisted Fyre Fest’s Billy McFarland, who is also a convicted felon, to woo rappers on the campaign trail

Donald Trump, Billy McFarland
From Left: Donald Trump; and Billy McFarland. Photo:

James Devaney/GC Images; Patrick McMullan/Patrick McMullan via Getty

Donald Trump's campaign is enlisting Billy McFarland for help wooing rappers' support ahead of the upcoming 2024 presidential election, according to a new report.

The Fyre Fest founder, a convicted felon who served time in prison for fraudulent activities related to the failed luxury music festival, introduced Trump, 78, to rappers Icewear Vezzo and Peezy ahead of a campaign event in Detroit on June 15, according to Rolling Stone.

The magazine reported that the disgraced CEO, 32, also told radio personality Angela Yee that he introduced the presumptive GOP nominee to Sheff G and Sleepy Hallow, both of whom appeared at Trump's rally in the Bronx on May 23.

According to Page Six, McFarland joined the rap duo, who "took the stage and spoke at the Trump rally" at Crotona Park in the South Bronx.

“I just love bringing different people together," McFarland told Yee, per Rolling Stone. He also claimed that “over 35 artists” had asked him to attend Trump's New York campaign event.

Billy McFarland is seen on July 13, 2023
Billy McFarland in July 2023.

jfizzy/Star Max/GC Images

McFarland has also posted a picture of him with Trump, who is also a convicted felon, on the former president's birthday. "Pres’ birthday featuring your new cabinet," he captioned Instagram post.

Sources close to or on the Trump campaign told Rolling Stone that McFarland has "no formal role with the former president’s 2024 campaign." However, he is someone "that Team Trump has reached out to when the campaign or Trump has sought to connect with certain celebrities."

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The magazine noted that members of the Republican party have been working on securing meetings and hosting events with hip-hop artists, rappers and producers. They are reportedly hoping that the artists will campaign for Trump and help him appeal to Black voters.

Former US President Donald Trump, from left, Emil Bove, attorney for former US President Donald Trump, and Susan Necheles, attorney for former US President Donald Trump, at Manhattan criminal court in New York, US, on Thursday, May 30, 2024.
Donald Trump in May 2024.

Michael M. Santiago/Getty

Trump was found guilty in May for 34 counts of falsifying business records in a historic hush-money trial involving adult actress Stormy Daniels. He will be sentenced on Sept. 18.

McFarland famously founded the disastrous Fyre Festival in April 2017. He was charged with wire fraud in June 2017 and served part of a six-year prison sentence. He was released in May 2022.

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