PENSACOLA, Fla. — Northwest Florida congressman Jimmy Patronis says country musician Jelly Roll “is 100% not welcomed to Florida’s panhandle” after the singer made joke’s at President Donald Trump’s expense while guest-hosting “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” on Monday.
During his Monday monologue, Jelly Roll joked about Trump’s weight and approval rating, as well as the president hosting an IndyCar race on the streets of Washington, D.C.
“The president seemed to enjoy the IndyCar race, which was a real switch-up for him because normally he only likes his own race,” Jelly Roll said. “Trump also drove around the track in his motorcade doing what they call the ‘lap of honor,’ which sounds like a loyalty program at a strip club.”
Patronis — who was endorsed by Trump ahead of his special election in April 2025 to replace Matt Gaetz — posted on X late Wednesday morning in defense of Trump:
[Jelly Roll] is 100% not welcomed to Florida’s panhandle. I don’t even want to see his bus on I-10. He’s always been the token “country” star the libs in California are allowed to enjoy. (He ain’t country, never was.) Take the TDS elsewhere, loser.
Hours later, democrat Gay Valimont — Patronis’ opponent in the November election for Florida’s 1st Congressional District seat — posted a response on Facebook where she invited Jelly Roll to the Florida Panhandle.
“I believe the Panhandle belongs to all of us — not just politicians like Jimmy Patronis who think they get to decide who’s welcome here,” Valimont said. “So Jelly Roll, I’d like to personally invite you to the Panhandle. Come and see us, come meet the people, and come and enjoy the hospitality.”
In his monologue Tuesday night, Jelly Roll responded to the backlash from Trump’s supporters:
“Now, let’s be honest for a second. Any U.S. president should be able to handle a few jokes, right?” he said. “They should also be able to handle gas prices, healthcare, and the occasional international conflict, but beggars can’t be choosers.”