On today’s episode of, “What in the 2020?: The Kanye West Tales,” news has broken that Kanye West’s controversial (and rather trivial) 2020 presidential campaign has now received a boost from operatives in the Republican party, as well as an attorney that represents President Donald Trump.
As if we need another celebrity in chief, on Independence Day, the rapper sent the Twitterverse into a frenzy when he announced that he would be running for President. Believers, critics, and skeptics alike had much to talk about after he posted, “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! #2020VISION.”
This isn’t the first time Kanye has (presumably) cried wolf, having announced albums that were scheduled to be dropped, only to be delayed or never be released (Donda being the most recent), and also having announced a presidency run as early as August 2015 at that years MTV Video Music Awards ceremony. He would continue with his infamous “Kanye Rants” while on tour, stating he would have voted for Trump (if he did indeed vote), and even go as far as meeting with him on different occasions, including at the White House.
Months of vocal support for 45 would bring a flip-flop of sorts when he would begin to distance himself from the President. He tweeted, “My eyes are now wide open and now realize I’ve been used to spread messages I don’t believe in. I am distancing myself from politics and completely focusing on being creative,” in late 2018.
Now with this news of his presidential run, many thought it was a promo of some sorts for his album Donda, previously scheduled for a July 24 release. The album has since not seen the light of day. However, Kanye seems to be pressing on in full steam to be able to have his name on the ballot. The late announcement would mirror the title of his second album, Late Registration, as he had missed every single state filing deadline for the two major parties and nearly all state primaries. He also had, by that time, missed filing deadlines for at least six states to register as an independent candidate, including those with some of the highest electoral college votes, such as New York and Texas.
In a July 8 interview with Forbes, West revealed his campaign slogan (YES!), as well as his running mate (a preacher from Wyoming named Michelle Tidball). West also announced he would be running under the “Birthday Party,” stating, “Because when we win, it’s everybody’s birthday.” On his support/guidance from Elon Musk, West says, “We’ve been talking about this for years,” and went on to add, “I proposed to him to be the head of our space program.”
When you go to your boys house and you’re both wearing orange 🍊 pic.twitter.com/IyPOdEKaVY
— ye (@kanyewest) July 1, 2020
The race for the presidency wouldn’t stop there, with petitions arising to collect signatures to have Kanye qualify to appear on general election ballots in states such as Oklahoma (where he ended up qualifying) and South Carolina. His first campaign rally was held July 19, in North Charleston, South Carolina. Further cementing claims of his mental state, Kanye’s rally became another platform for one of his infamous rants, where he criticized Harriet Tubman and broke down crying when speaking about abortion.
Multiple news reports cited the rapper pulling out of the New Jersey ballot following an objection. People reports that as of Wednesday afternoon, paperwork has been filed to appear on the November ballot in Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Missouri, Ohio, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.
It is now being reported that a Wisconsin attorney, Lane Ruhland, was seen dropping off paperwork at the election commission building in Madison for Kanye’s campaign. Ruhland, an attorney representing President Trump in a current lawsuit or a political television ad, specializes in campaign finance as well as election law, and previously represented the Republican National Committee in 2016. She’s seen in a video captured by a local reporter, and simply says “No Comment” after being asked how many signatures she collected.
“No comment” as woman enters election commission building just after 5p in Madison to drop off signatures for Kanye West pic.twitter.com/zVxePn5Fe2
— Matt Smith (@mattsmith_news) August 4, 2020
A spokesman for the Trump campaign, Tim Murtaugh, released the following statement when asked of his knowledge of West’s dealings: “There’s no conflict to waive, but we have no knowledge of anything Kanye West is doing or who is doing it for him.” Reps for West have not commented on the matter after People reached out.
Celebrities and fans are now calling Kanye West out. Actor Cory Hardict took to Instagram to give his two cents, insisting, Kanye ‘stop playing with US.’ The actor went on to discuss the rapper is being used by Trump to peel off votes, calling it wildly dangerous.