Kanye West first announced his desire to become the country's top leader in 2015. After accepting his Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award from the MTV Video Music Awards that year, he announced his plans to run in the 2020 presidential race.
Five years later, he revealed that Oprah Winfrey said her piece to him concerning his plans, according to Cheat Sheet. He explained that he ran into her days after the awarding event.
Speaking to Joe Rogan's video podcast, Joe Rogan Experience, the "Heartless" rapper disclosed the conversation he had with the iconic philanthropist. He said that he remembers it because "it is Oprah."
Oprah Winfrey believes that Kanye West does not want to become president. She, reportedly, told him this, noting that he would need to "bone up" his foreign affairs.
While it may seem a discouraging disposition, the famous artist countered that Winfrey's words centered on "foreign policies" and affairs. He did not share, however, the entirety of their conversation.
Reports, then, recalled that Kanye did "back out" from his 2020 plans in 2018. It was not because of the American talk show host, though, as he noted to push his aspirations back to 2024.
But, despite his statements two years ago, West changed his course earlier this year. He announced that he would join the race, alongside Trump and Biden on July 4.
Kanye West is now running as an independent candidate. However, he was not able to get on all of the ballots because of his late participation, according to BuzzFeed News.
He did get on the ballots in 11 states only. But, the publication argued that there is "no plausible reality" wherein the rapper will win the presidential race. It is "mathematically impossible" for him to become the next leader of the United States with votes coming from the 11 states alone.
Despite this fact, the Cruel Summer artist has remained adamant with his campaigning efforts. He even, reportedly, urged his followers and potential voters to write in his name in the ballots, "if possible."
Oprah Winfrey has not endorsed any candidate this year. She has seemingly remained silent about the matter.
While she may or may not be in favor of Kanye West's aspirations, reports revealed that some individuals initially supported the rapper's bid. Some of them include Chance the Rapper and Elon Musk, according to Forbes.
The two high-profile personalities seemingly publicized their support toward Kim Kardashian's husband days after he announced his intentions in July. However, they have since clarified their positions on social media, acknowledging that there might be differences in their respective platforms.
