While his voice is most well-known for singing, these days North Carolina native Clay Aiken is using it for a different, more political, purpose.
It's why the singer ran for North Carolina's second congressional district as a Democrat in 2014. After falling short in that race, the "American Idol" runner-up turned to advocacy for the LGBT community, and serves as a UNICEF ambassador.
After the recent Public Facilities Privacy and Security Act passed in his home state, Aiken added his voice to the rising chorus of criticism against North Carolina's bill, which requires transgender individuals to use bathrooms that match their "biological sex." Aiken told CNBC's "On the Money" in an interview he is disappointed and frustrated by the government's action, calling the law "discriminatory."
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He added that it was " ironic, because it's an anti-discrimination bill."
Aiken, who was a contestant on "Celebrity Apprentice" in 2012, also spoke out about Donald Trump. Aiken told CNBC the GOP frontrunner of today is not the person he knew just a few years ago.
"I'm not even convinced that Donald Trump knows the person who's running today," says Aiken.
As for the Trump phenomenon, Aiken says the GOP establishment needs to pay attention because Donald Trump has tapped into an angry part of the electorate, but has misgivings if he is the right spokesperson for those people.
"I'm not completely convinced that he necessarily believes everything that he's saying," he added.