Fans Slam Donald Trump for Claiming Late Country Music Legend Dolly Parton 'Really Liked Me'

Fans have erupted after President Donald Trump claimed the late Dolly Parton 'really liked me' within hours of her death, a statement many saw as turning her passing into a political moment. The country music icon died on Tuesday at 80, yet Trump's remarks on a radio programme have sparked a fierce backlash online as supporters insist Parton was never his ally.

To recall, Parton's death was confirmed by her nephew Bryan Seaver in a video posted to her social media, with her publicist later stating she died peacefully in Nashville after a brief battle with cancer. Tributes poured in from across the music world, with Beyoncé, Taylor Swift and Dionne Warwick among those honouring her legacy.

Trump's Dolly Parton Claim Ignites Fan Fury

During a phone-in guest appearance on The Glenn Beck Program, Trump spoke warmly of Parton, saying, 'We all knew her so well. I knew her a little bit. She wasn't a very political person. She really liked me...she was a great person, she was a nice person. I liked her a lot.' The comments came just hours after her family's announcement, and many fans felt the timing was off.

Earlier on Tuesday, Trump had taken to Truth Social to direct that American flags be flown at half-staff in Parton's honour, writing, 'Very sad to report that Dolly Parton, one of the greatest Country singers, and far beyond, EVER, has just passed away.'

He added, 'There has never been anyone like her, and never will. In her honor, I am lowering the American flag throughout the United States for a one-week period beginning tonight at 6:00 PM.'

But the claim that Parton 'really liked' him did not sit well with many of her devoted followers. On X, one user wrote, 'He was everything she isn't, joyful, generous, empathetic, talented, pretty, funny, and kind. There is zero chance she would have liked him at all.'

Another added, 'Glen Beck laughing is as stupid as Trump once again making it about him. Dolly Parton was a huge advocate for the LGBTQ community, supporting gay marriage. She also stood for trans rights.'

Dolly Parton's Medal of Freedom History Resurfaces

Several users highlighted that Parton declined President Trump's offer of the Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honour, during his first term. Parton stated she didn't 'deserve' the medal when it was offered in 2016; she also disclosed that she received another offer from then-President Joe Biden during a 2021 appearance on TODAY.

During her talk show appearance, she explained her reasons for declining the award in 2016. 'I couldn't accept it because my husband was ill and then they asked me again about it and I wouldn't travel because of the COVID,' she said, noting that then-President Joe Biden indicated he wanted to present the honour personally.

'Now I feel like if I take it, I'll be doing politics, so I'm not sure. But I don't work for those awards. It'd be nice, but I'm not sure that I even deserve it. But it's a nice compliment for people to think that I might deserve it,' she said.

The main reason Trump and Biden considered giving Parton the Medal of Freedom was her philanthropic work, including her Imagination Library and funding for vaccine research.

Nothing is confirmed yet about Parton's personal political views beyond her public statements, so everything should be taken with a grain of salt. But the online reaction suggests many fans feel Trump's claim does not match the record.

Meanwhile, Ivanka Trump was brutally slammed as she shared a tribute to Dolly Parton, with critics accusing the former first daughter of opportunism. The backlash underscores how quickly a moment of mourning can turn into a political flashpoint, especially when a figure as beloved as Parton is involved.