Obama: ‘We’ve got better things to do’ than OK Jay-Z’s Cuba trip
Did Jay-Z and Beyonce really get White House clearance to go to Cuba, as Hova rapped in his “Open Letter” that dropped last week, shortly after the trip raised some official eyebrows?
White House spokesman Jay Carney said no, and now we have the answer straight from President Obama’s mouth. And it’s still, well, “no.”
“I done turned Havana into Atlanta ... ,” Jay-Z raps in the track. “Boy from the hood, but got White House clearance ... “
However, the leader of the free world apparently has a few things on his plate other than helping megastars plan an anniversary trip. He didn’t even know they were going, Obama told Savannah Guthrie on the “Today” show.
PHOTOS: Beyonce and Jay-Z through the years
“I wasn’t familiar that they were taking the trip,” the president said in an interview taped before the Boston Marathon bombing transpired.
“My understanding is I think they went through a group that organizes these educational trips down to Cuba. This is not something the White House was involved with.
“We’ve got better things to do,” Obama said with a smile.
Wait, a rapper boasting about something that didn’t really happen? Say it ain’t so!
ALSO:
Beyonce calls herself a ‘modern-day feminist’
Obama weighs in on Nicki Minaj-Mariah Carey feud
Obama thanks Jay-Z, praises Beyonce at exclusive NYC fundraiser
Follow Christie D’Zurilla on Twitter and Google+. Follow the Ministry of Gossip on Twitter @LATcelebs and on Facebook facebook.com/ministryofgossip.
PHOTOS AND MORE:
PHOTOS: Celebrity portraits by The Times
PHOTOS: Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show
PHOTOS: Celebrity mug shots
More to Read
The biggest entertainment stories
Get our big stories about Hollywood, film, television, music, arts, culture and more right in your inbox as soon as they publish.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.