Kanye West makes White House appearance
Rapper invited to talk politics, social issues with President Trump
WASHINGTON — Declaring that his red “MAGA” hat makes him “feel like Superman,” rapper Kanye West made a free-styling appearance in the Oval Office Thursday.
Ahead of a private lunch, President Donald Trump and West spoke to reporters as they sat across from each other at the Resolute desk. West dominated the conversation with a series of monologues that touched on social policy, mental health, endorsement deals and his support for the president.
“Trump is on his hero’s journey right now,” West said, tossing out an expletive to describe himself.
West said that many people believe that, if you’re black, you have to be a Democrat, and said he was pressured not to wear his red “Make America Great Again” hat. But he said “this hat, it gives me power.”
West credited Trump with preventing a war with North Korea and encouraged Trump to swap his usual Air Force One for a hydrogen-powered plane. West also argued that Trump deserved more respect, saying: “if he don’t look good, we don’t look good.”
During one pause in West’s comments, Trump said: “I tell you what, that was pretty impressive.” He also described West as a “smart cookie.”
West also spoke against stop-and-frisk policing policies, which Trump recently expressed support for. Trump said he was open to other ideas.
Trump recently tweeted praise for West, who closed a “Saturday Night Live” show wearing a “Make America Great Again” hat and delivering an unscripted pro-Trump message after the credits rolled.
West is married to reality television star Kim Kardashian West, who pushed Trump to grant a pardon for a drug offender this year.
Meanwhile, first lady Melania Trump said Thursday on “Good Morning America” that she could be “the most bullied person” in the world, judging by “what people are saying about me.”