White House responds to Jay-Z song: 'Nothing rhymes with Treasury'

Jay-Z says in his new track "Open Letter" that he got "White House clearance" for his trip to Cuba with wife Beyoncé, but White House spokesperson Jay Carney told press that the White House had nothing to do with it.

In one lyric, Jay-Z says "I turned Havana into Atlanta. Away from the hood, I got White House clearance. Obama said, 'Chill, you're gonna get me impeached.' You don't need this s*** anyway, chill with me on the beach."

In response to a question about that lyric, Carney said "I guess nothing rhymes with Treasury." There was laughter in the room as Carney continued. "Treasury offers and gives licenses for travel, as you know and the White House has nothing to do with it."

When pressed as to whether President Obama had had a conversation with Jay-Z about his trip to Cuba, Carney reiterated that "the White House, from the president on down," did not communicate with Jay-Z and Beyoncé over their trip.

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Treasury, these are tough words to rhyme. It's a song."