A stunt? Kanye West raises eyebrows over ‘presidential bid’

African-American rapper and vocal supporter of President Trump writes on social media that he is running for president.

Rapper Kanye West listens during a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump, not pictured, in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Thursday, Oct. 11, 2018. West, a recordin
Rapper Kanye West listens during a meeting with United States President Donald Trump in White House in 2018 [File: Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg]

American rapper Kanye West, a vocal supporter of United States President Donald Trump, has announced that he will run for president in 2020, raising bewildered reactions to his move to challenge Trump and the presumptive Democratic rival, former Vice President Joe Biden.

“We must now realize the promise of America by trusting God, unifying our vision and building our future. I am running for president of the United States,” West wrote in a social media post late on Saturday (01:00 GMT Sunday), adding an American flag emoji and the hashtag “#2020VISION”.

It was not immediately clear if West was serious about vying for the presidency four months before the November 3 election, or if he had filed any official paperwork to appear on state election ballots.

The deadline to add independent candidates to the ballot has not yet passed in many states.

West and his equally famous wife, Kim Kardashian West, have visited Trump in the White House.

At one meeting in October 2018, West delivered a rambling, profanity-laden speech in which he discussed alternative universes and his diagnosis of bipolar disorder, which he said was actually sleep deprivation.

Elon Musk, the chief executive of electric-car maker Tesla and another celebrity known for eccentric outbursts, endorsed West’s Twitter post: “You have my full support!” he wrote.

Josh Marshall, founder of the political website Talking Points Memo, called West’s move a “stunt” that is “part of some deal with Trump”.

Source: Al Jazeera, News Agencies