Season 9 of Duck Dynasty is in full swing right now, but there is a lot happening off camera, too, that has the Robertson family in the news. One one side of things, Jep Robertson and his wife, Jessica, have adopted an African-American baby boy named Jules Augustus Robertson. On the other side of things, the family is divided on the 2016 presidential election as Willie Robertson has now officially given his support to Donald Trump.
Jep and Jessica Robertson have actually already introduced Jules aka baby Gus to the world as he made his debut this past Wednesday on Jep and Jessica: Growing the Dynasty on A&E. According to Us Weekly , it’s been a bit of an emotional roller coaster for the couple, but they had faith as Jessica said.
“I had some health risks, so I wasn’t able to have another child, physically. It was on my heart so heavy. A year and a half ago, Jep came on board. He was like, ‘You know what, it’s a God thing. If it’s so heavy on your heart, this is something we need to do.’ “
Jessica (35) and Jep (37) already have four other children in Lily (13), Merritt (11), Priscilla (9), and River (7). Baby Gus is just 4-months-old, and the couple has had to get used to going without sleep again, but it’s been all worth it.
Thanks for the love! This has been a crazy, awesome ride but so worth it! Me and Gus signing out! #JepAndJessica pic.twitter.com/ps0MMcLdGJ
— Jep Robertson (@JepDuckman) January 21, 2016
Jep Robertson went on to say that when they first talked about adoption a few years ago, they had nothing in mind. Upon going to the adoption agency, they didn’t care “what race, what gender. We just want to have a baby, so whatever happens, happens.” With that, they got Gus.
Now, while it may not be a problem to anyone that a couple in the Robertson family adopted an African-American child, it may confuse them. Just a couple of years ago, there was a lot of controversy when patriarch Phil Robertson said that African-Americans weren’t mistreated during the pre-Civil Rights era in his eyes.
It caused a big stir at the time, but the Daily Mailreports that Jep has said his fatherloves his new grandson. Apparently, Phil Robertson often says that “we’re all part of one race, the human race” so that means he loves Gus.
Now, Phil Robertson is usually quite outspoken, and he’s just recently given his endorsement to Ted Cruz as the next president. That is not an endorsement that other family members agree with, though, as Phil’s son, Willie Robertson, has now publicly endorsed Donald Trump .
AOL reported that a press release was just recently released by Willie Robertson before the 16th annual Outdoor Sportsman Awards in Las Vegas. In that release, Willie told it like he sees it and endorsed Trump for president.
“He’s not afraid to tell it like it is. He’s a friend of the Second Amendment… the man I’m standing behind to be the next President of the United States — Donald Trump.”
Trump has since said he was honored and proud of the endorsement from Willie Robertson. It does seem as if the Duck Dynasty family is going to be quite divided, though, and not all will really know where to turn.
On a recent episode of Fox and Friends , Jep and Jessica Robertson also gave their endorsement to Donald Trump. Well, sort of. It appeared as if they were wavering between Trump and Cruz, but only time will tell.
The Robertson family never seems to have its fair share of drama, storylines, and good times as Duck Dynasty continues on season-by-season. Now, there is a new baby in the mix and a presidential opinion split between Donald Trump and Ted Cruz, but that will certainly make for great TV too.
[Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images]