Russell Simmons calls out pal Trump to 'stop fueling fires of hate'

Maria Puente | USA TODAY

Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump says he couldn't care less what his legions of critics are saying about him, but will he care what some of his close friends say?

Cue hip-hop honcho-turned business magnate Russell Simmons, who describes himself in an open letter as a close friend and admirer of Trump — and then cuts him down as a bigoted "one-man wrecking ball" who is "fueling the fires of hate."

Just cut it out, Donald, Simmons says in his letter. Only he doesn't put it so politely.

Thank you Russell Simmons - for speaking your truth to your friend Donald Trump. One can only hope he'll listen. https://t.co/FQkO2C6VOf — Joanne Tombrakos (@joannetombrakos) December 9, 2015

Simmons, who was a celebrity guest on Trump's The Apprentice in 2004, writes partly in anger, partly in despair at what Trump has said and done — his latest is a proposed ban on all Muslims allowed into the USA — to "ruin" their long friendship.

Such a ban would be immoral, unconstitutional, impractical and un-American, responded practically everyone in a bipartisan roar of condemnation.

Simmons tweeted that "I had to write this" and linked to his letter.

"Over 30 plus years you have been an amazing friend; endorsing my books, coming to my shows, flying me on your planes, your helicopters, and even allowing my family members and myself to stay in your house in Florida many times," Simmons writes. "So, it kinda pains me to know that my public statements about your candidacy have strained or ruined our friendship."

Simmons says in his letter that his friends, both Muslims and Jews, are comparing Trump's "rap" to Hitler, "and I cannot disagree with them, Donald." Now it's time to cut out the bull-manure, he writes.

"Stop fueling fires of hate. Don’t feed into the rhetoric created by small-minded people," he urges. "You’re smarter and certainly more loving then you let on... You have been many people’s champ in the past, but now you are becoming a major embarrassment."

A real friend will tell you the #truth and I'm happy he did so publicly. https://t.co/Y4UHfe3LmE — Anita Johnson (@AnitaJohnson) December 9, 2015

Simmons is tough on Trump but also attempts to appeal to his better angels, so to speak.

"You are a born leader, who is set to possibly win the nomination of your party, but don’t compromise what I know is in your heart to do it," he writes. "You are a generous, kind man who has built a career on negotiating deals where everybody wins. Now, you seem like a one-man wrecking ball willing to destroy our nation’s foundation of freedom."

Still, Simmons ends his letter "with love" and wishes Trump luck in his campaign.

"But as I’m sure you know, our belief systems are polar opposites on many of the issues," he writes. "And I will be campaigning rigorously against you. But if you win, I might still accept an invitation to your house to straighten you up every so often."

So far, Trump, who seems never far from his Twitter feed, has not responded in public to his friend's letter.

But his indifference to criticism was summed up in one of his tweets on Tuesday.