Chris Rock reportedly compared former President Donald Trump to late rapper Tupac Shakur and called Democrat lawmakers "stupid" for wanting to arrest him, saying it would only increase his popularity.
The 58-year-old comedian joked about the potential arrest and directly addressed Democrat lawmakers in the audience during an appearance at the Kennedy Center on Sunday, where he helped honor Adam Sandler with the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor.
"Are you guys really going to arrest Trump?" Rock asked, according to the Daily Mail, which noted that Nancy Pelosi, as well as several Biden administration officials, were in the crowd. "Do you know this is only going to make him more popular? It's like arresting Tupac."
"He's just gonna sell more records," he added. "Are you stupid?"
Rock also took aim at allegations that Trump paid porn star Stormy Daniels hush money in the run-up to the 2016 election to cover up an affair.
"That's romantic," Rock reportedly said. "We've all been cheated on. Don't you wish that the person that cheated on you paid off somebody so you wouldn't find out?"
Named for one of the world's greatest humorists, the Mark Twain Prize recognizes individuals who have impacted American society in ways similar to 19th-century novelist Samuel Clemens, also known as Mark Twain.
According to the Mail, other comedians who have received the lifetime achievement award include Richard Pryor, Whoopi Goldberg, Bob Newhart, Carol Burnett and Dave Chappelle.
The ceremony will air March 26 on CNN.
In a Saturday post on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump said he expects to be taken into custody on Tuesday.
According to The Associated Press, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg is reportedly considering charges stemming from allegations that the former president paid hush money to women who claimed they had sexual encounters with him.
Top Republicans, including some of Trump's potential rivals for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination, came to his defense Saturday after the former president said he is bracing for possible arrest.
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy was among those coming to Trump's aid, saying any indictment would be "an outrageous abuse of power by a radical DA who lets violent criminals walk as he pursues political vengeance."
The California Republican went on to say that he would direct GOP-controlled House committees "to immediately investigate if federal funds are being used to subvert our democracy by interfering in elections with politically motivated prosecutions."
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