Yeezus is giving praise. Kanye West “respects” President-elect Donald Trump because of his influence over the United States as a celebrity, a source exclusively tells IPRESSTV following the men’s Tuesday, December 13, meeting at Trump Tower in New York City
“Kanye respects the idea that Trump was able to speak to a group of people in the country that had been largely forgotten by the media,” the insider tells IPRESSTV. “He looks at Trump as a celebrity who is able to influence the greatest office in the world, not as a politician.”
The insider adds: “Kanye believes celebrities can be more powerful than our politicians. Just because the internet or the media is framing something in one way — like Hillary [Clinton] winning the election — doesn’t always mean that that’s a representation of what’s going on in reality.”
As for how the “Famous” rapper’s wife, Kim Kardashian, feels about her husband’s meeting with the 70-year-old future POTUS, another source tells IPRESSTV “she respects her husband,” even though she vocally supported Clinton, 69, leading up to this year’s election on November 8.
“Kim knew Kanye was coming on this trip. She’s not surprised by this,” the insider says. “Kim knew that Kanye supported Trump before this. Kim and Kanye definitely differ on their opinions — obviously, she voted for Hillary.”
As previously reported, West — who is in Manhattan to take meetings and look at apartments — stopped by Trump Tower on Tuesday morning to talk about life and exchange ideas with President Barack Obama’s successor, a source tells IPRESSTV.
Donald Trump (left) and Kanye West stand together in the lobby at Trump Tower, Dec. 13, 2016, in New York City. Drew Angerer/Getty Images
After their meeting, which Trump’s elder daughter, Ivanka Trump, also took part in, the two men posed together for pictures.
"We've been friends for a long time," the reality star turned politician told reporters. "Life, we discuss life." West, meanwhile, ignored questions from the media. "I just want to take a picture right now," he said with a laugh.
After shaking hands, the real estate tycoon told West, “You take care of yourself, I’ll see you soon.”
West took to Twitter on Tuesday, revealing why he wanted to meet with Trump. “I wanted to meet with Trump today to discuss multicultural issues,” he wrote, adding in a subsequent tweet: “These issues included bullying, supporting teachers, modernizing curriculums, and violence in Chicago.”
He continued: "I feel it is important to have a direct line of communication with our future President if we truly want change."
Their meeting took place nearly two weeks after West was released from the UCLA Medical Center following a nine-day hospital stint for extreme exhaustion. Before canceling the remainder of his Saint Pablo tour last month, the hip-hop star told concertgoers that he didn’t vote in this year’s election, but said that if he did, he would have cast a ballot for Trump.
"I told y’all I didn’t vote, right? What I didn’t tell you … if I were to have voted I would have voted on Trump," he said during a November 17 rant.