Kanye’s presidential run — real or for show?
Musician launches chaotic White House bid, leaving analysts puzzled
US rapper Kanye West’s chaotic launch of his unlikely campaign to oust Donald Trump in November’s presidential election has sparked anger, concern for his mental health and questions about whether he is seriously running.
Wearing a bulletproof jacket marked security, West broke down in tears during a rambling speech in Charleston, South Carolina, on Sunday that was supposed to kick-start his White House bid.
Instead, controversial comments about renowned US abolitionist Harriet Tubman enraged attendees, provoked scorn online and left political analysts scratching their heads about the mercurial musician’s true intentions.
For Jeffrey McCune, who teaches a course on West at Washington University in St Louis, the topsy-turvy nature of the event was typical of the hiphop star.
“All things Kanye are impulsive. I have never been a fan of ‘throw-your-towel-in’ political entries,” McCune said.
“However, this is Kanye’s brand completely.”
With “2020” shaved onto his head, West veered between several subjects during the hourlong rant, including claiming he had wanted his wife, Kim Kardashian, to get an abortion.
But it was his comment that “Harriet Tubman never actually freed the slaves, she just had the slaves go work for other white people” that grabbed most headlines.
West “has lost his mind”, tweeted historian Kate Clifford Larson, author of Bound for the Promised Land: Harriet Tubman, Portrait of an American
Hero.
“Harriet Tubman freed enslaved people. You, Mr West, are a jerk and not worthy of uttering Tubman’s name. You have not freed anyone,” Larson wrote.
Tubman is known for helping to free dozens of black people from slavery by using a network of activists and safe houses known as the Underground Railroad.
West also told the event he had wanted his wife to get an abortion when she was pregnant with North, their oldest daughter.
He then revealed his father had also had wanted to abort him.
“My dad wanted to abort me. My mom saved my life.
“There would’ve been no Kanye West because my dad was too busy,” West said, bursting into tears.
He later shouted: “I almost killed my daughter! I almost killed my daughter!”
West’s speech provoked bewilderment and concern for the musician, who has talked about his struggles with bipolar disorder.
The event also offered little insight into what policies he might put forward, though he did propose “everybody that has a baby gets a million dollars”.
The 43-year-old caused further confusion on Monday night by posting a series of cryptic tweets, including one accusing Kardashian of trying to have him committed to a hospital. West raised eyebrows on July 4 when he announced he would challenge Trump.
However, he has offered virtually no details about his campaign.
Reports began circulating in US media last week that West had dropped out of the race.
He missed the deadline in several states to be listed on the presidential ballot, but is listed on the ballot in Oklahoma.
West needed to collect 10,000 signatures by midday on Monday to appear on South Carolina’s ballot. “Kanye West did not submit a petition,” a spokesperson for the state’s election commission said.
Analysts are reluctant to write off West completely, considering-Trump’s run in 2016 wasn’t considered particularly serious until he won the Republican nomination.
“Kanye’s personal resources and visibility and track record of generating media attention for himself, he could be the wild card in enough places to have an impact on the race, even if he only gets on the ballot in a few key states,” Robert Yoon, an elections specialist at the University of Michigan, said.
McCune said though he believed West had “many brilliant ideas”, he “will be a minor player in the field, if one at all”. —