Did Kanya's run for presidency contribute to Trump's loss? Photo by Jason Persse,
Like most young fans, Atin Popli, a Baruch College student, sits in his room fantasizing about meeting his favorite celebrity. Keeping up with contemporary news, Popli couldn’t believe his ears when he heard of an unlikely presidential candidate in 2020—Kanye West. “We all thought it was a happy little joke where he decided that in 2020 he’s going to run for president, but that was the beginning,” he said. “Then, I believe on New Year’s Eve 2015, he chopped the song, “Facts” on Sound Cloud where he says ‘2020, I’m going to run the whole election.’”
West’s plans had been in the works for a while. During the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards, the rapper and entrepreneur announced he’d run for president in 2020, leaving many Americans feeling somewhere between shocked and amused. West had already sparked controversy by wearing a “Make America Great Again” cap and meeting with, and hugging, President Trump. During his acceptance speech for the Vanguard Award at the VMAs six years ago, West stated: “I don’t know what I finna lose after this. It don’t matter, though; It’s not about me. It’s about ideas. New ideas. People with ideas. People who believe in truth,” West said. “And yes, as you probably could’ve guessed by this moment, I have decided in 2020 to run for president.”
He followed through with the plan, though he didn’t appear on the ballots in most states. With the voting now largely over and Joe Biden the president elect, Fox News reported that West received about 60,000 votes compared to 77 million for Biden and nearly 72 million for Trump.
Given the chaos of the election, many wonder what West was up to.
Some took him seriously, casting a ballot for him under the “Birthday” party out of protest. “I voted for him because I don’t think that a two-party system is the way that America should be run,” said West fan Jessie Harris, 19, who lives in Utah. “I think that creates a lot of division and it’s clearly been displayed over the past year with all the riots and controversy surrounding this election.”
Others disagree, refusing to waste a vote. Edwinn Pineda, a 19-year-old CCNY student described West’s behavior as ridiculous and obnoxious. “A couple of years ago Kanye said slavery is a choice,” said Pineda. “I thought that was messed up … At times he’ll say something without thinking what he has done or what he is saying.”
As the final result of the election remains chaotic with Trump refusing to concede, it’s unclear what effect West’s candidacy may have on the bottom line. “If I’m not wrong,” concluded Pineda, “Kanye supports Trump.”
Series: Election 2020
