Black Atlanta business owner blindsided by Trump campaign event at his hair salon

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 this wasn’t what he signed up for and now he’s speaking out.

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

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

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

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

Former President Trump called 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 there was never any mention that it was a political event.

Jones added that he never heard from a Trump campaign representative either.

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

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

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

“Even though I trusted this person, I didn’t do the research I should have done. Now I’m letting everyone know that you need to be aware of these calls,” Jones said.

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

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

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