Long-forgotten video footage has surfaced of a gimmick convention in 2004 where Donald Trump nominated Eminem as the presidential candidate of the “Shady Party.”
MTV’s coverage of the event, available on YouTube, shows Trump lauding the rapper, who was still known by his alter-ego, Slim Shady, at the time.
According to Mother Jones magazine, the Shady National Convention was held to promote Enminem’s fourth album, “Encore,” and launch a hip-hop channel on Sirius satellite radio.
Of course, this was just a spoof, and it is clear on the video that Eminem (real name, Marshall Mathers, a native of Warren, Mich.) took it a lot less seriously than the applauding “delegates” at the event who were waving placards and shouting support.
But Trump seemed almost oblivious to the tongue-in-cheek aspects of the gathering, delivering a shot but full-throated nominating speech that carried his trademark narcissism. For Trump, the so-called convention was just a means of soaking up some adulation and puffing up his ego.
It’s quite clear that the label “Shady Party” was just fine with The Donald, who didn’t seem to get the joke. Here’s what he told the loudly cheering crowd:
When the Shady Party called and told me there’s going to be a convention, I said it’s got to be a really big one—and it’s got to be right here in New York. Because this is the best city anywhere in the world. Am I right? Of course I’m right. I’m always right — I’m Donald Trump, I’m always right. I know a winner when I see one, and Donald Trump is telling you right now, Slim Shady is a winner. He’s got brains, he’s got guts, and he’s got Donald Trump’s vote!
