If he does decide to run again, former US president Donald Trump may have found himself a new running mate.
Trump had high praise on Tuesday for rapper Kanye West even as the hip-hop star continued to face backlash over antisemitic remarks he made in a pair of TV interviews.
Not only did Trump refuse to condemn West’s comments, but he doubled down with effusive praise, thanking the rapper for his undying loyalty and support.
“He was really nice to me. Beyond anybody, he was,” the twice-impeached former president said in a new interview. “He was great to me.”
It didn’t matter that West’s rant took aim at Trump’s own son-in-law, Jared Kushner. West, who now goes by the name Ye, asserted that Kushner, a former White House adviser to Trump, only brokered the Abraham Accord peace deal between Israel and some Arab states because he hoped to benefit financially.
“He was great, really, to MAGA, to the MAGA movement, which was very impressive,” Trump said in an interview with right-wing news host Larry O’Connor. “I’ve always gotten along with him.”
“He was really high on a guy named Donald Trump,” added the ex-commander-in-chief.
Donald Trump and Kanye West: Both embroiled in antisemitism controversy
Trump was talking about the recent West interview in which he spewed antisemitic hatred against Kushner while speaking to Fox News host Tucker Carlson. West also recently threatened to go “DEF CON 3 on Jewish people” in an outrageous tweet.
The rapper went even further into the antisemitic deep end in an appearance on Chris Cuomo’s new show, claiming that his “life was threatened by my Jewish managers, by my Jewish lawyer, by my Jewish accountant.”
Trump, meanwhile, has been defending himself against accusations of antisemitism in recent days.
He warned American Jews to “get their act together” in a social media post that accused them of being ungrateful for what he described as his strong support of Israel.
The Anti-Defamation League has condemned both West and Trump for promoting centuries-old tropes about Jewish power, wealth and disloyalty.
Seated in the poorly lit backseat of a car and sporting a hoodie and baseball cap, the “Gold Digger” rapper began the Cuomo interview by telling his host he was to be known simply as Ye going forward.
Cuomo honored that wish during a 20-minute chat that ended with the billionaire performer taking offense at being asked about his mental health after a long rant that Cuomo told him was antisemitic.
“You’re saying ‘That’s antisemitic,’ but I don’t believe in that term,” West said. “It’s not factual.”
“You’re saying ‘That’s antisemitic,’ but I don’t believe in that term. It’s not factual.”
Kanye West, AKA Ye
The billionaire recording artist said, “I classify as Jew, also,” but complained Jewish people “specifically in my industry” are not held to account for what he feels is systemic wrongdoing.
When he wore a “White Lives Matter” shirt to Paris Fashion Week earlier this month, “The Jewish underground media mafia already started attacking me,” Ye claimed.
“The Jewish underground media mafia already started attacking me.”
Kanye West, AKA Ye
“Look, there is no Jewish media cabal, mafia — that is a figment of either your imagination or a projection of a prejudice,” Cuomo said. “You may have had bad business dealings with people — it’s about those people — it’s not about their religion or faith.”
“Look, there is no Jewish media cabal, mafia — that is a figment of either your imagination or a projection of a prejudice. You may have had bad business dealings with people — it’s about those people — it’s not about their religion or faith.”
Chris Cuomo
The former CNN host warned Ye that when someone with his influence spreads hate, it gives license to others to act against ethnic groups that have historically been persecuted.
Ye insisted, “We’re not going to be owned by the Jewish media anymore” and warned “these people” could end the career of anyone who isn’t aligned with ”the agenda.”
That prompted Cuomo to delicately ask Ye about his state of mind.
“Have you been taking care of your health?” the 52-year-old host asked.
That seemed to upset West, who responded by asking Cuomo if he’d exercised that morning.
“No, but I took my medicine,” Cuomo replied. “I took my anti-depressant medication that I take every day.”