Kanye West Launches 2020 Presidential Offering


TOPLINE

Kanye West has abandoned his short life in the 2020 White House, says a political adviser close to West New York MagazineJust a week after the rapper became a presidential candidate, he confirmed that he was serious in an extensive interview with Forbes

KEY FACTS

“He’s out,” confirmed Steve Kramer, West’s “voting specialist”.

Last Wednesday West said Forbes he was fully involved in a presidential bid, after many speculated that the race could be a publicity stunt: “Like everything I’ve ever done in my life,” said West, “I’m doing it to win.”

The next day, TMZ reported that West’s family feared the rapper would experience a bipolar episode.

Kramer, who runs a political firm that helps get candidates on the ballot, said New York mA magazine that West had already started building a campaign operation in a frantic effort to get the rapper to vote in key states.

West had hired both “paid and volunteer” staff, Kramer said, to help him get the number of signatures needed to vote in Florida and South Carolina.

When New York mmagazine Journalist Ben Jacobs contacted West’s publicist to confirm it, the rapper’s team “went dark,” and Kramer later confirmed that West had dropped out of the race.

Key background

Earlier this month, West announced his intention to run for president in an abrupt message on Twitter, after previously declaring that he would run for president in 2024. Several days later, the rapper confirmed that he was serious about a third-party offer on under a new banner, “The Birthday Party”, in an interview with Forbes West also opened up to Forbes about his opposition to President Trump, whom he originally supported. “I’m taking off my red hat with this interview,” said West.

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West jumped into the presidential race extremely late, and political analysts noted that the rapper would fight to get on the ballot in many states. When West announced, the deadlines had already passed to stand as an independent candidate in Texas, Indiana, New Mexico and North Carolina.

Tangent

West also sold Covid-19 vaccine conspiracy theories in an interview with Forbes indicating he planned to be “extremely cautious” about a vaccine and claim that the government was trying to put “chips” inside of us.

Surprising fact

West proposed a running mate for Forbes Last Wednesday, a Cody, Wyoming native named Michelle Tidball, who describes herself online as a “biblical life coach”. West had not previously mentioned Tidball, though the rapper owns a ranch in Cody City and has spent a considerable amount of time there in recent years.

Further reading

Kanye West Says He’s Done With Trump: Opens Up On White House Deal, Hurting Biden And Everything Else (Forbes)

Kanye’s short-lived attempt to get to the 2020 ballot (New York Magazine)