Jay Z released a new song earlier today, “Open Letter,” in which Jay raps, “I turned Havana into Atlanta… Boy from the hood/ I got White House clearance… Obama said, ‘Chill you gonna get me impeached/ You don’t need this shit anyway, chill with me on the beach.'” Critics believe that Jay is talking about his recent trip to Havana in the song and they even went to the White House with questions.
Reporter Donovan Slack asked White House press secretary Jay Carney if President Obama did, indeed, give Jay and Bey clearance to go to Havana. Carney replied, “I guess nothing rhymes with Treasury… because Treasury offers and gives licenses for travel, as you know, and the White House has nothing to do with it. I am absolutely saying that the White house from the President on down had nothing to do with anybody’s travel to Cuba that is something that Treasury handles.” He went on to say, “It’s a song Donovan. The President did not communicate with Jay Z over this trip.” You can check out the video below to see Carney’s reaction to the question.
