Rev. Al Sharpton sets the record straight on Aretha Franklin's relationship with Trump

Rev. Al Sharpton speaks at Aretha Franklin&#039;s funeral.

(Image credit: Screenshot/Twitter/ABC News)

published 31 August 2018

After soul legend Aretha Franklin died earlier this month, President Trump offered some clumsy condolences to her family, saying he knew the singer well and that "she worked for me on numerous occasions."

The comment predictably drew ire from critics who said it was a "narcissistic" way to honor her memory. Franklin sang at Trump-owned businesses several times over the decades, reports The Washington Post, but biographer David Ritz said it was inaccurate to imply the two had "some type of bond."

Speaking at Franklin's funeral in Detroit on Friday, Rev. Al Sharpton, a civil rights activist, made sure to set the record straight. He said he wanted to "correct President Trump" to teach him the meaning of "respect," eliciting cheers from the star-studded audience. "No, she used to perform for you," he continued. "She worked for us. Aretha never took orders from nobody but God." Watch the moment below, via ABC News. Summer Meza

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Summer Meza has worked at The Week since 2018, serving as a staff writer, a news writer and currently the deputy editor. As a proud news generalist, she edits everything from political punditry and science news to personal finance advice and film reviews. Summer has previously written for Newsweek and the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, covering national politics, transportation and the cannabis industry.