Why Eminem Got Investigated By The Secret Service Twice
It's safe to say that rapper and record producer Eminem is no shrinking violet. Throughout the years, his career has been mired in controversy — mostly due to the lyrics in his songs. "Since I came in this game, my mentality still, to this day, is very much like it was at the Hip-Hop Shop, where I rap to get a reaction. Especially then, it was like I need to say this because I might not get to have the mic again, so I always try to rap like that," he told MTV News in 2013. "A bad reaction is better than no reaction... I would rather have some kind of reaction," he explained. "If my music sparks debates and conversations or whatever — be it right, be it wrong or whatever — I would rather have it get a reaction — a bad reaction — than no reaction. 'Cause no reaction sucks," he declared unapologetically.
Alas, it appears some disagree with Eminem's line of thinking. "He's very good at what he does, but he's also a misogynist and homophobe and racist and anti-Semite. I'm 33 and can see through it, but I can't imagine that an 8-year-old in Idaho sees it as just a joke," award-winning musician Moby told Rolling Stone in 2001, simultaneously igniting a longstanding feud between the two men.
But, as it turns out, the Secret Service also had a bone to pick with the "Lose Yourself" rhymer, as well — not once, but twice.
Eminem vs. George W. Bush
Eminem was no fan of George W. Bush.
"[Bush] has been painted to be this hero, and he's got our troops over there dying for no reason," the rapper lamented to Rolling Stone in 2004. "I think he started a mess... He jumped the gun, and he f****d up so bad he doesn't know what to do right now... We got young people over there dyin', kids in their teens, early twenties that should have futures ahead of them. And for what? It seems like a Vietnam 2. Bin Laden attacked us, and we attacked Saddam. Explain why that is. Give us some answers."
But that was only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Eminem's disdain for the former prez. Just one year prior, he ignited a firestorm when his song, "We As Americans," was prematurely leaked. In the song, Eminem could be heard uttering the words, "F*** money / I don't rap for dead presidents / I'd rather see the president dead / It's never been said, but I set precedents." As one can imagine, Eminem's lyrics prompted the Secret Service to take a closer look. "We are aware of the lyric and are in the process of determining what action, if any, will be taken," Secret Service spokesman John Gill told CNN. Meanwhile, Eminem's camp also released a statement. "This was an unfinished song, either lost or stolen," Eminem's spokesperson Dennis Dennehy said. "There was no determination where, when, how or if it was going to be used."
Eminem vs. Donald Trump
Second time's the charm?
One might be inclined to think that after one run-in with the Secret Service, Eminem would refrain from rapping about any more presidents, but that was simply not the case. In 2017, Eminem went toe-to-toe with Donald J. Trump when he took aim at not only him, but his daughter Ivanka Trump and his wife Melania Trump, as well, in his album, "Revival." Per The Hill, Eminem referred to Trump as an "Aryan" in one song and rapped that it was "time to bury him," discussed putting Trump's daughter Ivanka Trump in the trunk of his car in another, and even brags about hitting on the then-first lady Melania Trump. Ironically, the Donald opted not to respond — not even on Twitter. "I feel like he's not paying attention to me," Eminem later confessed during a radio interview. "I was kinda waiting for him to say something, and for some reason, he didn't say anything."
However, the Secret Service did take note. According to documents obtained by BuzzFeed, the agency opted to interview Eminem because the lyrics "exhibiting inappropriate behavior" and their threatening nature. Still, in the end, the Secret Service decided not to refer the case to a federal prosecutor. And there ya have it, folks!