Kanye’s free-style riffs dominate Oval Office
WASHINGTON — Declaring that his red “MAGA” hat makes him “feel like Superman,” rapper Kanye West made a free- styling appearance Thursday in the Oval Office.
Ahead of a private lunch, President Donald Trump and West spoke with 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, who dropped the Fword, floated policy proposals — and went in for a hug.
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.”
It was a surreal scene even by the standards of the current White House.
Spectators i ncluded Trump’s son-in-law and top adviser, Jared Kushner, and former NFL star Jim Brown.
The conversation began with an exchange on North Korea among Trump, Brown and West. Trump said the region was headed for war before he took over, and West commended him for stopping it. Brown said he liked North Korea; Trump agreed.
West also criticized the 13th Amendment, which abolished slavery, calling it a “trap door.”
Holding out his phone, West showed Trump a picture of a hydrogen-powered plane that he thought should replace Air Force One.
“This right here is the iPlane 1,” he said. “This is what our president should be flying.”
During one pause, Trump seemed to acknowledge the oddness of the moment, saying: “That was quite something.” Kanye West hugs President Trump during a visit Thursday to the Oval Office before West and Trump had lunch.