Kanye West chose the most American of holidays — the Fourth of July — to announce he’s officially running for president (apparently for real this time). On Saturday evening (July 4), the G.O.O.D. Music founder fired off a tweet vowing to be on the 2020 ballot.
“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!” he wrote. “#2020VISION.”
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
— ye (@kanyewest) July 5, 2020
Kanye’s announcement, of course, is being met with mixed reactions. For years, Ye has been an outspoken supporter of Donald Trump, causing division among his longtime fans. Some people are concerned if he were to get on the 2020 ballot, he could split the vote and possibly hand the re-election to the current POTUS.
Others are all for it, adopting a “2020 is already trash” attitude, lumping the news in with the police killing of George Floyd, COVID-19 and the deaths of Breonna Taylor and Elijah McClain, again at the hands of police.
So Trump got Kanye to try to split the Black vote. #Kanye2020 #BlackLivesMatter #Biden2020 pic.twitter.com/QzDkTcceL5
— Dr. Bedford Palmer (@DrBFPalmer) July 5, 2020
Yep gonna try and split young votes from Biden and help his buddy trump get re-elected
— John B. (@JB93621) July 5, 2020
It’s 2020. You expected any better?
— Tactless_Ogre (@TactlessOgre) July 5, 2020
The Grammy Award-winning artist has toyed with the idea of running for office numerous times. Shortly after the 2016 election, he spoke about his intentions to throw his name in the ring during an interview with the BBC.
“When I talk about the idea of being president, I’m not saying I have any political views,” he explained. “I don’t have views on politics, I just have a view on humanity, on people, on the truth. If there is anything that I can do with my time and my day, to somehow make a difference while I’m alive I’m going to try to do it.”
As Kanye continues to be a trending Twitter topic on good ol’ Independence Day, check out some of the initial reactions below.
trump telling kanye to split the dem vote so he can stay in office pic.twitter.com/N3TDUgvrG5
— alana. (@alanaauston) July 5, 2020
I need 2020 to end. https://t.co/R2zkrC8tvL
— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) July 5, 2020
To anyone even thinking of voting for a "progressive" Kanye platform:
1) He's a trump supporter
2) Trump probably put him up to this to split Biden's vote
3) Kanye called slavery a choice
4) Kanye has a deep history of instability like Trump— Is America Great Yet? (@TonysLosTigres) July 5, 2020
Kanye running on purpose to guarantee Trump the victory, this decision will split votes for Biden. pic.twitter.com/3AKu5G5Cz4
— Vondale F? (@vondalef) July 5, 2020
Kanye is another one of Trump's desperation cards to try to salvage the beatdown coming
Split that people of color vote
— Jason Maples (@JJMaples55_MST) July 5, 2020
So Donny cut the check to Kanye to split votes, eh. pic.twitter.com/8D4sS6zItP
— SHoKTee (@akaRCN) July 5, 2020
Trump is surely behind Kanye running for presidency. He’s not doing to win. He’s doing to split the black community votes and make Trump’s second term bid a success. Smart move
— .ひ (@thearmah_) July 5, 2020
In 2020, we’ve had:
– WW3 scares
– Kobe & Gigi’s death
– Australia burning
– A global pandemic
– All sports cancelled
– UFO sightings
– Murder Hornets
– Parallel Universe
-George Floyd’s Death
– Riots
– Anonymous returned
– Now Kanye’s running for president?It’s only July. pic.twitter.com/fRcT1KgIYT
— IcyJa?❄️ (@IcyJa__) July 5, 2020
If y’all actually vote for Kanye and split the democratic vote…. pic.twitter.com/6kJPJJDOFQ
— micayla. (@luckyu925) July 5, 2020
Is Kanye trying to split votes in favor of Trump or am I drunk?
— Jem (@JustJem24) July 5, 2020
kanye west is running for president….which could make kim kardashian the first lady…i want OUT of this country no joke pic.twitter.com/53BwHpW9PM
— el (@lCECLDPOOL) July 5, 2020
Me finally realizing that Kanye West pulling a Ross Perot and runs for President will only split the votes that would’ve went to Joe Biden and secures Trump another presidential term…..#kaynewest pic.twitter.com/wfPRTOOsBQ
— Da Basement (@DABASEM3NT) July 5, 2020
kanye just gonna split the vote further and boom another four years of the cheeto pic.twitter.com/zTFVXpJOzR
— e⁷ (@ultfiIter) July 5, 2020
The only reason why Kanye is doing this is to get black voters to vote for him for shits and giggles, in hopes of swaying the black vote away from Biden – eventually trying to split the democrat vote so Trump can win https://t.co/hzBGaj7iSO
— Tri ⁷ (@THEEEhottie) July 5, 2020
Who knows if this is real or not.
But this is why Biden needs to stoke passion and court progressives.
No one knows what kinds of tricks Trump will pull between now and November, from friendly third-party candidacies to minor wars in the Middle East. Biden needs to bring it. https://t.co/dsOeQ4CA8e
— Anand Giridharadas (@AnandWrites) July 5, 2020
Everyone: please let July be a good month
Kanye:#kanye2020
— jel (@angelica_fio) July 5, 2020