Team Trump seek Yeezy way out of election mire
Kanye hasn’t a hope in hell of winning the presidency but, bolstered by cunning Republicans, he could scupper Democratic nominee Biden’s chances
IF Donald Trump has taught us anything, it is that no matter how crazy, dangerous or ignorant someone is, they can become president.
Since he entered the White House, his policies – especially his handling of the coronavirus – have left America a much worse place.
Routinely I read comments from people back home praising his “leadership” with comparisons being made to Boris Johnson.
People hark on about his role in the US economy, as he claims credit for it being in the best position in US history, yet they fail to acknowledge the growth started years earlier under Barack Obama.
The facts, not the “fake news” his supporters swallow, speak for themselves.
But if there is one good thing to come out of Trump’s presidency, it is that never have more people been engaged in politics and who they elect.
It has also inspired others to run for the White House, including Kanye West.
The uber-celebrity, married to fellow uber-celebrity Kim Kardashian, has thrown his hat in the ring, hoping to remove Trump from the Oval Office. Or, so you’d think.
What has since emerged is that behind the rapper’s run are Trump-supporting Republicans who, it is claimed, are pushing West’s erratic campaign to aid Donnie.
The belief, as tweeted by the President himself, is that a West campaign will syphon off crucial African American votes from main rival, Democrat Joe Biden in November.
If this all sounds a bit far-fetched, it really isn’t, the tactic has paid dividends in previous ballots. Let’s be clear, West (aka Yeezy) cannot win the election. He’s missed too many deadlines to get on the ballot in too many states. There are also accusations the necessary paperwork he needed to submit used bogus signatures including ‘Mickey Mouse’.
But the hope among Republicans is that West could hamper Biden in enough states to tip the balance in their favour.
Sadly for Trump, there is a flaw in the plan. Even before he announced his intentions to run, black America was wary of West. Over the years they have seen the rapper who has bipolar disorder drop a slew of controversial statements on race.
Comments like: “slavery for 400 years . . . sounds like a choice” angered many, while his more recent claims that include saying that famed abolitionist Harriet Tubman
“never actually freed the slaves” have led to just 29 per cent of Americans having a positive opinion of him, according to a poll. What’s more, his biggest fans aren’t the young African American men whose support Republicans seem to think he would attract – only nine per cent look upon him favourably.
The sight of West cosying up to the President and going full MAGA claiming he and Trump have shared “dragon energy”, also removed some credibility.
In politics, favourability and fandom aren’t the same thing, but Trump proves an unqualified celebrity can have a major impact on presidential races.
Make no mistake, every vote for West is a vote for Trump. The rapper may have ‘Mickey
Mouse’ in his corner, but America must realise his campaign could keep
Goofy in the
White
House.