Inside Donald Trump and Kanye West's unlikely friendship

Debanjali BoseJul 9, 2020, 01:52 IST

Calla Kessler/The Washington Post/Getty Images

On the Fourth of July, Kanye West announced he's running for president in 2020.
West has enjoyed an unlikely — and public — friendship with President Trump since before the latter entered the Oval Office.
West's relationship with Trump is much more cordial than his relationships with former presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama.
The White House and Kanye West's representatives didn't immediately respond to Business Insider's request for comment for this article.

Rapper and newly minted billionaire Kanye West celebrated the Fourth of July by tweeting out his 2020 bid for president. Tesla CEO Elon Musk and his wife Kim Kardashian West each sent support tweets.

While the feasibility of this bid is up for debate, West has enjoyed a very public friendship with the current occupant of the White House over the years.

"One of the main reasons I wore the red hat as a protest to the segregation of votes in the Black community. Also, other than the fact that I like Trump hotels and the saxophones in the lobby," West told Forbes in July 2020.

In the same Forbes interview, West added that he was "taking the red hat off" and that Trump was losing his support because "it looks like one big mess," specifically alluding to reports of Trump hiding inside a bunker during the Black Lives Matter protests in May. Trump has maintained that he was inspecting the bunker. West limited his criticism of Trump to those few points.

Here's a look inside West and Donald Trump's camaraderie over the years.

In 2009, Kanye West interrupted Taylor Swift's MTV Video Music Awards acceptance speech. Donald Trump called the move "disgusting."

West and Swift at the 2009 VMAs. Jason DeCrow/AP Photo

Trump's feelings towards West seemed to have changed by 2014 when, during an appearance on Mario Lopez's "Extra," he complimented West and Kim Kardashian on their upcoming wedding.

Kim Kardashian and Kanye West at the 2019 Met Gala. Angela Weiss/AFP/Getty Images

Trump's feelings towards West seemed to have changed by 2014 when, during an appearance on Mario Lopez's "Extra," he complimented West and Kim Kardashian on their upcoming wedding.

A year later, West won the Video Vanguard Award during the 2015 MTV VMAs. He shared plans to run for president in 2020 during his 13-minute long acceptance speech. Trump called his speech and declaration "interesting."

Kanye West accepts the Video Vanguard Award onstage during the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards. Jeff Kravitz/MTV1415/FilmMagic

A year later, West won the Video Vanguard Award during the 2015 MTV VMAs. He shared plans to run for president in 2020 during his 13-minute long acceptance speech. Trump called his speech and declaration "interesting."

West says he did not vote in the 2016 presidential elections but if he had, he would have chosen Trump over Hillary Clinton.

Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. AP

Kanye's announcement was in stark contrast to his wife's political opinions.

West visited Trump Tower for a meeting with the president-elect in December 2016.

West and Trump at Trump Tower in New York City in 2016. AP Photo/Seth Wenig

In April 2018, West sent out a series of tweets expressing admiration for Trump, including that he was his "brother" and they both have "dragon energy."

John Legend, Chrissy Teigen, Kanye West, and Kim Kardashian. Jeff Kravitz/MTV1415/FilmMagic

West solidified his position in the pro-Trump camp by visiting the White House later in 2018 and wearing the president's signature red "Make America Great Again" hat.

West and Trump in the Oval Office in 2018. Getty Images

Although he says he skipped voting in the 2016 elections, West said he would make his way to the polling booth this year and heavily alluded to President Trump as being the candidate with his support.

West and Trump during their White House meeting. Kevin Lamarque/Reuters

Although he says he skipped voting in the 2016 elections, West said he would make his way to the polling booth this year and heavily alluded to President Trump as being the candidate with his support.

On the Fourth of July, West announced in a tweet that he was running for president in 2020.

Kanye West. Dimitrios Kambouris / Getty Images

West has enjoyed a more friendly relationship with Trump than with the last two presidents — President George W. Bush and President Barack Obama.

Barak Obama and George Bush. Associated Press/Pablo Martinez Monsivais

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Inside Donald Trump and Kanye West's unlikely friendship

In 2009, Kanye West interrupted Taylor Swift's MTV Video Music Awards acceptance speech. Donald Trump called the move "disgusting."

Trump's feelings towards West seemed to have changed by 2014 when, during an appearance on Mario Lopez's "Extra," he complimented West and Kim Kardashian on their upcoming wedding.

A year later, West won the Video Vanguard Award during the 2015 MTV VMAs. He shared plans to run for president in 2020 during his 13-minute long acceptance speech. Trump called his speech and declaration "interesting."

West says he did not vote in the 2016 presidential elections but if he had, he would have chosen Trump over Hillary Clinton.

Kanye's announcement was in stark contrast to his wife's political opinions.

West visited Trump Tower for a meeting with the president-elect in December 2016.

In April 2018, West sent out a series of tweets expressing admiration for Trump, including that he was his "brother" and they both have "dragon energy."

West solidified his position in the pro-Trump camp by visiting the White House later in 2018 and wearing the president's signature red "Make America Great Again" hat.

Although he says he skipped voting in the 2016 elections, West said he would make his way to the polling booth this year and heavily alluded to President Trump as being the candidate with his support.

On the Fourth of July, West announced in a tweet that he was running for president in 2020.

West has enjoyed a more friendly relationship with Trump than with the last two presidents — President George W. Bush and President Barack Obama.