On Thursday rapper Kanye West met with President of the US Donald Trump at the white House. The rapper shared some of his many opinions descended upon 1600 Penn. to discuss everything from North Korea to bipolar disorder with his “brother” President Donald Trump.
Sporting his now-signature “Make America Great Again” hat, West made his first trip to the executive mansion to get clarity on issues close to his heart and, before he deleted it, his social media feed – among them prison reform, gang violence and his hometown of Chicago.
Seated across from Trump at the famous Resolute Desk, West began the Oval Office meeting – which also included NFL Hall of Famer Jim Brown and Trump’s son-in-law and senior adviser Jared Kushner – with a nearly 10-minute-long speech that the rapper said was “from the soul,” according to White House pool reports.
The discussion included a variety of topics from personal to political. West called the president’s work on criminal justice reform (an issue close to wife Kim Kardashian’s heart) “bravery.” West also said he was advised not to wear the MAGA hat, though he did not specify by whom. “They tried to scare me to not wear this hat,” he said.
He spoke about his childhood. “My dad and my mom separated so there was not a lot of male energy in my home and also I’m married to a family where, you know, there’s not a lot of male energy. It’s beautiful though.” He said that Trump had given him (we assume metaphorically) “a Superman cape” to help do good.
West also spoke on the issue of his mental health. The rapper had previously spoken out about his bipolar disorder, but told Trump on Thursday said that was a misdiagnosis and that West is instead just sleep-deprived.
West, who received harsh criticism for suggesting slavery was a “choice,” told Trump that “we have to release the love (throughout) the country … we don’t have the reparations but we have the 13th Amendment.” Trump added that West could “speak for me any time he wants. He’s a smart cookie. He gets it.”
He also commented on his childhood. “My dad and my mom separated so there was not a lot of male energy in my home and also I’m married to a family where, you know, there’s not a lot of male energy. It’s beautiful though.” He said that Trump had given him (we assume metaphorically) “a Superman cape” to help do good.
When asked by a reporter if West, who has teased a presidential run in the past, was a viable candidate for commander-in-chief, Trump said that the rapper “could very well be.” But West himself had a caveat: “Only after 2024.”
West continued: “Let’s stop worrying about the future, all we have is today … Trump is on his hero’s journey right now. He might not have thought he’d have a crazy mother—— like (me).”
The pair then took several photos together and shred a hug in the end.
“I love this guy right here,” West said.
-The Washington Post
