Kanye West

=== Presidential campaigns ===
{{Main|Kanye West U.S. presidential campaigns}}

==== 2020 ====
[[File:Kanye West North Charleston Rally, July 2020.jpg|thumb|West at his first campaign rally in [[North Charleston, South Carolina]], on July 19, 2020]]

On July 4, 2020, West announced on Twitter that he would be running in the [[2020 United States presidential election|2020 presidential election]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Seipel |first=Brooke |date=July 4, 2020 |title=Kanye tweets he's running for president |language=en |work=The Hill |url=https://thehill.com/blogs/in-the-know/in-the-know/505893-kanye-tweets-hes-running-for-president |access-date=July 4, 2020 |archive-date=January 20, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210120205450/https://thehill.com/blogs/in-the-know/in-the-know/505893-kanye-tweets-hes-running-for-president |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Drury |first=Sharareh |date=July 4, 2020 |title=Kanye West Announces 2020 Presidential Run |language=en |work=The Hollywood Reporter |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/kanye-west-announces-2020-presidential-run-1301846 |access-date=July 5, 2020 |archive-date=July 5, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200705060424/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/kanye-west-announces-2020-presidential-run-1301846 |url-status=live }}</ref> On July 7, West was interviewed by ''Forbes'' about his presidential run, where he announced that his running mate would be Wyoming preacher Michelle Tidball, and that he would run as an [[independent politician|independent]] under the "Birthday Party", explaining his decision of why he chose the name, saying, "Because when we win, it's everybody's 'birthday'."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Lane |first1=Randall |title=Kanye West Says He's Done With Trump—Opens Up About White House Bid, Damaging Biden And Everything In Between |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/randalllane/2020/07/08/kanye-west-says-hes-done-with-trump-opens-up-about-white-house-bid-damaging-biden-and-everything-in-between/#44bd292447aa |access-date=July 8, 2020 |work=Forbes |date=July 7, 2020 |archive-date=July 8, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200708062958/https://www.forbes.com/sites/randalllane/2020/07/08/kanye-west-says-hes-done-with-trump-opens-up-about-white-house-bid-damaging-biden-and-everything-in-between/#44bd292447aa |url-status=live }}</ref> West also said he no longer supported Trump because he "hid in [a] bunker" during the [[COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref name="France">{{cite news|last=France|first=Lisa Respers|date=July 8, 2020|title=Kanye West says he no longer supports Trump and that he had coronavirus|url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/07/08/entertainment/kanye-trump-coronavirus-forbes/index.html|access-date=July 8, 2020|publisher=CNN|archive-date=July 14, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200714174654/https://www.cnn.com/2020/07/08/entertainment/kanye-trump-coronavirus-forbes/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Continuing, he said, "You know? Obama's special. Trump's special. We say Kanye West is special. America needs special people that lead. [[Bill Clinton]]? Special. [[Joe Biden]]'s not special."<ref name="France" />

Various political pundits speculated that West's presidential run was a publicity stunt to promote his latest music releases.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Rolli |first1=Bryan |title=Kanye West's 2020 Presidential Run Is Just His Latest Outrageous Promotional Stunt |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/bryanrolli/2020/07/05/kanye-west-2020-presidential-run-promotional-stunt/#79c654b74a9d |access-date=July 8, 2020 |issue=July 5, 2020 |work=Forbes |archive-date=July 19, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200719023633/https://www.forbes.com/sites/bryanrolli/2020/07/05/kanye-west-2020-presidential-run-promotional-stunt/#79c654b74a9d |url-status=live }}</ref> On July 15, 2020, official paperwork was filed with the [[Federal Election Commission]] for West, under the "BDY" Party affiliation<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Kreps |first=Daniel |date=July 15, 2020 |title=A 'Kanye 2020' Committee Just Filed With the FEC, But Is It Legit? |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/kanye-2020-fec-1029361/ |access-date=August 16, 2020 |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en-US |archive-date=August 18, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200818025733/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/kanye-2020-fec-1029361/ |url-status=live }}</ref> amid claims that he was preparing to drop out.<ref>{{cite web|date=July 15, 2020|title=Kanye West has reportedly dropped out of the presidential race|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/kanye-west-has-reportedly-dropped-out-of-the-presidential-race-2707866|access-date=July 15, 2020|website=NME|language=en-GB|archive-date=July 15, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200715053629/https://www.nme.com/news/music/kanye-west-has-reportedly-dropped-out-of-the-presidential-race-2707866|url-status=live}}</ref> West held his first rally that weekend, on July 19.<ref>{{Cite news |date=July 20, 2020 |title=Kanye West launches unconventional 2020 campaign |language=en-GB |publisher=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-53467658 |access-date=July 20, 2020 |archive-date=July 20, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200720010206/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-53467658 |url-status=live }}</ref> West aligned himself with the philosophy of a [[consistent life ethic]], a tenet of [[Christian democracy]].<ref name="PCR2020">{{cite web |title=Kanye West picks 'biblical life coach' as presidential running mate |url=https://premierchristian.news/en/news/article/kanye-west-picks-biblical-life-coach-as-presidential-running-mate2 |publisher=[[Premier Christian Radio]] |access-date=August 31, 2020 |language=en |date=July 10, 2020 |archive-date=August 12, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200812180559/https://premierchristian.news/en/news/article/kanye-west-picks-biblical-life-coach-as-presidential-running-mate2 |url-status=live }}</ref> His platform advocated for the creation of a [[culture of life]], endorsing [[Stewardship (theology)|environmental stewardship]], supporting the arts, buttressing [[faith-based organization]]s, restoring [[school prayer]], providing for a strong national defense, and [[America First (policy)|"America First" diplomacy]].<ref name="Kornhaber2020">{{cite web |last1=Kornhaber |first1=Spencer |title=Kanye West, Political Pawn |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/culture/archive/2020/08/how-kanye-west-became-political-pawn/615256/ |publisher=[[The Atlantic]] |access-date=August 20, 2020 |language=en |date=August 14, 2020 |archive-date=November 23, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201123224432/https://www.theatlantic.com/culture/archive/2020/08/how-kanye-west-became-political-pawn/615256/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In July 2020, West told ''Forbes'' that he is ignorant on issues such as taxes and foreign policy.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/randalllane/2020/07/08/kanye-west-says-hes-done-with-trump-opens-up-about-white-house-bid-damaging-biden-and-everything-in-between/|title=Kanye West Says He's Done With Trump—Opens Up About White House Bid, Damaging Biden And Everything In Between|first=Randall|last=Lane|website=Forbes|date=July 8, 2020|access-date=July 8, 2020|archive-date=July 8, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200708062958/https://www.forbes.com/sites/randalllane/2020/07/08/kanye-west-says-hes-done-with-trump-opens-up-about-white-house-bid-damaging-biden-and-everything-in-between/|url-status=live}}</ref>

West conceded on Twitter on November 4, 2020.<ref>{{cite web|date=November 4, 2020|title='Welp': Kanye West admits defeat while teasing 2024 run|url=https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/welp-kanye-west-admits-defeat-while-teasing-2024-run|access-date=November 6, 2020|website=The Washington Examiner|first=Anthony|last=Leonardi|language=en|archive-date=November 5, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201105110135/https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/welp-kanye-west-admits-defeat-while-teasing-2024-run|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Carras |first=Christi |date=November 4, 2020 |title=Well, one thing is certain: Kanye West will not be elected president |language=en-US |work=Los Angeles Times |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2020-11-04/election-2020-kanye-west-votes-president |access-date=November 5, 2020}}</ref> He received 66,365 votes in the 12 states he had ballot access in, receiving an average of 0.32%. Reported write-in votes gave West an additional 3,931 votes across 5 states. In addition, the ''[[Roque De La Fuente]] / Kanye West'' ticket won 60,160 votes [[2020 United States presidential election in California|in California]] (0.34%).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fec.gov/resources/cms-content/documents/2020presgeresults.pdf|title=OFFICIAL 2020 PRESIDENTIAL GENERAL ELECTION RESULTS|publisher=FEC |access-date=June 4, 2021}}</ref> According to ''[[Reuters]]'', on January 4, 2021, a Kanye West-linked publicist pressured a Georgia election worker to confess to bogus charges of election tampering to assist [[Attempts to overturn the 2020 United States presidential election|Trump's claims of election interference]].<ref>{{Cite news|last1=Szep|first1=Jason|last2=So|first2=Linda|date=December 10, 2021|title=Kanye West publicist pressed Georgia election worker to confess to bogus fraud charges|language=en|publisher=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/kanye-west-publicist-pressed-georgia-election-worker-confess-bogus-fraud-charges-2021-12-10/|access-date=December 12, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Olding|first=Barbie Latza Nadeau, Rachel|date=December 10, 2021|title=Of Course Trump's Jan. 6 Plot Now Involves Kanye's Henchwoman|language=en|work=The Daily Beast|url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/trevian-kutti-kanye-publicist-urged-georgia-election-worker-ruby-freeman-to-confess-to-fraud-says-reuters|access-date=December 12, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Jenkins|first=Cameron|date=December 10, 2021|title=Publicist linked to Kanye West pushed election worker to confess to Trump's fraud claims: Reuters|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/585368-publicist-linked-to-kanye-west-pushed-election-worker-to|access-date=December 12, 2021|website=The Hill|language=en}}</ref> In December 2021, ''[[The Daily Beast]]'' reported that West's presidential campaign received millions of dollars in services from a secret network of Republican operatives, payments to which the committee did not report. According to campaign finance experts, this was done to conceal a connection.<ref>{{Cite news|last1=Sollenberger|first1=Roger|last2=Bredderman|first2=William|date=December 17, 2021|title=Kanye West's 'Independent' Campaign Was Secretly Run by GOP Elites|language=en|work=[[The Daily Beast]]|url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/kanye-wests-independent-campaign-was-secretly-run-by-gop-elites|access-date=December 18, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=McLaughlin|first=Kelly|date=December 17, 2021|title=Kanye West's presidential campaign was run by GOP operatives who were trying to re-elect Trump, investigation finds|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/kanye-west-presidential-campaign-gop-operatives-investigation-finds-2021-12|access-date=December 18, 2021|website=[[Business Insider]]|language=en-US}}</ref>

==== 2024 ====
West has stated his intentions to run for president again in the [[2024 United States presidential election|2024 presidential election]]. In November 2019, he said at an event, "When I run for president in 2024, we would've created so many jobs that I'm not going to run, I'm going to walk." He was met with laughter from the audience.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/celebrities/2019/11/08/kanye-west-says-hes-running-president-2024/2527854001/ |title=Kanye West on joining 2024 presidential race: 'I'm not going to run, I'm going to walk' |website=[[USA Today]]}}</ref> On October 24, 2020, while running for president, West told [[Joe Rogan]] on his podcast that he would be open to running for [[Governor of California]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tmz.com/2020/10/24/kanye-west-joe-rogan-experience-podcast-governor-president-race/|title=Kanye West Open to Running for CA Governor on Joe Rogan's Podcast|website=TMZ|date=October 24, 2020 }}</ref> On May 19, 2021, [[Fox News]] reported that it had obtained a letter concerning an RFAI (Request for further information) from the [[Federal Election Commission]] regarding an exploratory presidential committee. West's representatives stated, "Kanye West has not decided whether to become a candidate for president in the 2024 election, and the activity of the Kanye 2020 committee that prompted this RFAI is strictly exploratory."<ref>{{cite web|last=McCarthy|first=Tyler|date=May 19, 2021|title=Kanye West 'has not decided' if he'll run for president again in 2024|url=https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/kanye-west-not-decided-run-president-2024|access-date=January 6, 2022|publisher=Fox News|language=en-US}}</ref> West said he approached former president Donald Trump and asked him if he would be interested in being his running mate.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Helmore |first=Edward |date=November 25, 2022 |title=Kanye West announces 2024 presidential bid amid far-right ties |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2022/nov/25/kanye-west-presidential-run-2024 |access-date=June 27, 2023 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Kanye West announces he's running for president |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/kanye-west-announced-running-president/story?id=71614805 |access-date=June 27, 2023 |website=ABC News |language=en}}</ref> On subsequent interviews, merchandise, and in songs lyrics, West would repeatedly insinuate that he will indeed run.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/news/kanye-west-hints-at-running-in-2024-election-wants-kims-support/|title=Kanye West Hints at Running in 2024 Election in New Song — and Hopes Kim Kardashian Will Support Him|author=Thompson, Eliza|date=April 29, 2022|work=US Weekly}}</ref> On November 20, 2022, Kanye announced his intention to run in 2024.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/kanye-ye-west-says-run-002722425.html | title=Kanye 'Ye' West Says He Will Run for President in 2024 (Video)|work=Yahoo! Entertainment|first=Loree|last=Seitz|date=November 21, 2022|access-date=December 4, 2022}}</ref> In October 2023, an attorney for West said that he "is not a candidate for office in 2024".<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/kanye-west-not-running-president-2024-1235450094/|title=Kanye West Not Running For President in 2024|date=October 20, 2023|last=Kaufman|first=Gil|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|access-date=November 20, 2023}}</ref>