Jake Paul encourages voting Trump for president, even though he can't from Puerto Rico
Controversial Youtuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul encouraged his audience of 80 million to vote for Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump Thursday morning, even though Paul won't be casting a ballot for the former president himself.
"Please, for the love of God, go, exercise your right to vote on my behalf and vote for Donald Trump in this election," Paul said in the 18-minute-long video. "America depends on it."
The 27-year-old moved to Puerto Rico to pursue his career in professional boxing career in 2021, and therefore cannot vote in presidential elections.
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Paul, a long-time Trump supporter, told his subscribers on YouTube and 4.6 million followers on X that the offensive "floating island of garbage" comment made by Trump rally speaker and comedian Tony Hinchcliffe on Sunday was not a representation of how the former president feels about the U.S. territory.
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"Hinchcliffe talking smack about Puerto Rico was not funny," Paul said. He added: "Puerto Rico is the most beautiful place on Earth and the people here are absolutely incredible."
Paul has defined his career as a polarizing media figure and been dubbed a "dude influencer", starting on social media and as a Disney Channel star to becoming one of the world's highest paid boxers. He's scheduled to take on former heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson later this month.
Trump made an appearance in June on the podcast of Jake Paul's brother, Logan, as the Republican's campaign works to court younger, male voters.
Jake Paul in his video argued Trump is a promoter of women's rights despite nominating three U.S. Supreme Court justices who voted to overturn the Constitutional right to abortion and amid a backlash after a Trump rally on Wednesday night in Green Bay, Wisconsin, where the former president said he would "protect" women "whether they like it or not."
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Jake Paul can't vote for Trump from Puerto Rico. But he wants you to