Kanye West gave a two campaign donations totaling $200,000 to a Chicago Democratic mayoral hopeful, with one before and one after he said he was ‘distancing’ himself from politics.
West, who previously a vocal supporter of President Trump, flaunting a MAGA hat whenever cameras were rolling in recent months, made an about face on Twitter last week, saying he realized ‘I’ve been used to spread messages I don’t believe in.’
The hip-hop megastar then emphatically added, ‘I am distancing myself from politics and completely focusing on being creative!!!’
State campaign records show West gave $126,460 to Amara Enyia’s mayoral campaign, a week after he donated $73,540 and appeared with her for a sidewalk news conference on Chicago’s South Side.
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Chicago mayoral candidate Amara Enyia speaks as Chance the Rapper, center, and Kanye West listen during a rally Tuesday, Oct. 23 in Chicago, after which he donated $73,540 to her campaign
After the hip-hop megastar shared he was distancing himself from politics, he donated an additional $126,460, bringing his total contributions to the democrat to $200,000
On October 23 Kanye, along with Chance the Rapper, appeared front and center for a rally for Enyia in Chicago.
Other Democrats have questioned Enyia for accepting money from a high-profile Trump supporter. But she’s said she appreciates West’s backing.
On October 11, West had a bizarre, on camera, rambling, expletive laden meeting with Trump in the Oval Office.
During Kanye’s Twitter announcement he was leaving politics, he also shared some beliefs that seemed to be in contradiction to Trump’s, including supporting common-sense gun laws ‘to make our world safer.’
He also said he wanted to see ‘compassion for people seeking asylum and parents who are fighting to protect their children from violence and war.’
It is unclear if the public ridicule Kanye received for his Oval Office appearance had anything specifically to do with his about face.
His Twitter announcement suggested he was also pressured break-ties with Trump from his inner circle.
Besides tweeting he was breaking from politics and specifically hitting out at some of the president’s positions he shared ‘I would like to thank my family, loved ones, and community for supporting my ACTUAL beliefs and my vision for a better world.
Kanye had a bizarre appearance in the Oval Office on October 11 where he cursed and rambled