In an extended speech that touched on racism, tax breaks, prison reform, mental health and the need for art programs in schools, controversial rapper Kanye West used his meeting with President Donald Trump at the White House on Thursday to offer a platform on issues he feels are most important to the African American community, ABC News writes.
CNBC adds that the discussion between Trump and West was a “stunning and surreal half hour.”
“You are tasting a fine wine. It has complex notes to it,” he told reporters as he knelt in front of Trump’s desk. Trump in return said the rapper “could very well be” a future presidential candidate. However, West responded that this might happen “only after 2024.”
“Let’s stop worrying about the future all we have is today. Trump is on his hero’s journey right now. He might not have thought he’d have a crazy m***** f***** like (me),” West said.
The President and the rapper discussed prison reform, the African American unemployment rate and the surge in violence in West’s hometown of Chicago, according to a statement from White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders. West also brought Jim Brown, a former star running back for the Cleveland Browns and someone who has previously spoken with Trump about issues impacting the black community.
In an interview on Fox and Friends on Thursday, Trump spoke glowingly about the rapper calling him “a friend of mine.” On Tuesday, Trump called West “a terrific guy” and someone who “loves what we’re doing for African-American jobs.”
According to CNN, the meeting was a chance for Trump to say that he does care for black people, “but don’t take my word for it, listen to Kanye West.”
But what the meeting highlighted was how few African-Americans Trump has in his circle – Omarosa Manigault-Newman, who wrote a scathing tell-all on Trump, hasn’t been replaced. The meeting also highlights how seriously Trump takes issues that his base doesn’t really care about, CNN added.
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