Kanye West visits The White House, creates a stir

Famous rapper Kanye West discusses foreign policy, prison rules with the President.

Kanye+West+performing+at+Austin+City+Limits+Music+Festival+on+September+16%2C+2011+in+Austin%2C+Texas.

photo via Wikimedia Commons under creative commons license

Kanye West performing at Austin City Limits Music Festival on September 16, 2011 in Austin, Texas.

Joey Dunphey, Reviews editor

On Thursday Oct. 11, Kanye West brought his politics to the White House. He joined President Donald Trump and former football player Jim Brown to discuss various topics pertaining to industry, prison reform, technology, and more. They spoke in front of the press in the Oval Office before departing for lunch to converse without reporters.

West, one of the music industry’s most influential artists, has recently spoken about his political support of President Trump. His open support for the President has stirred up much contention over the past year. West has been seen wearing Trump’s signature Make America Great Again hat on several occasions. Recently, he wore it on Saturday Night Live and TMZ, and has also posted pictures on Twitter and Instagram of the hat.

West has said he chooses to support the controversial president because he looks up to him for gaining a large following, building a campaign, and winning against all predictions.

Despite his fervent support of Trump, West also preaches the importance of love in the world. He claims that he loves everybody, even Hillary Clinton, and that America should come together and promote love instead of hate, which is tearing our country apart.

West spoke about many different topics during his 10-minute monologue at Thursday’s White House meeting. He first discussed his desire to give back to the city of Chicago, which was one of his main concerns coming into the meeting. He was worried about the high murder rate in Chicago and wants to improve the city by opening up industries and renovating laws. He said that he doesn’t feel that “stop and frisk” works in the city, which Trump supports. Trump responded and said that he is open to everything and willing to help Chicago.

West also said that he thinks America should make more of its products inside its borders and not depend on factories in other countries, such as China. He says he is working with Adidas to move his Yeezy factories to America, specifically Chicago.

“We have to bring jobs into America because our best export is entertainment and ideas,” West said. “But when we make everything in China and not in America, then we’re cheating on our country and we’re putting people in positions to have to do illegal things to end up in a cheapest factory ever: the prison system.”

West’s issue with the prison system in America led to him making controversial comments about the 13th amendment, which abolished slavery. He posted on Twitter and Instagram that the amendment should be abolished, later correcting himself to say that it should be amended.

On TMZ, West clarified his comments, saying he believed the 13th Amendment fails to protect those in prisons who are forced to work for little or no pay. At Thursday’s meeting with Trump, he argued that he considers the amendment a “trap door” in the Constitution.

West has had a busy couple of months, speaking at various events, performing, and attending interviews, all while trying to work on his music. He is currently in Uganda with his team working on his new album Yhandi, which is scheduled for release on Nov. 23.

West has claimed in the past that he plans to run for President in 2024, but only time will tell if that will prove true.