In one of his first public appearances since checking out of UCLA Medical Center in late November, Kanye West met with President-elect Donald Trump in New York City this morning (December 13).
"We’ve been friends for a long time": Kanye West and President-elect Trump appear together at Trump Tower https://t.co/QoofBJzY1x pic.twitter.com/DK6z1P9LhG
— CNN (@CNN) December 13, 2016
Aside from Trump’s comment about their alleged friendship in the CNN video above, neither he nor West provided an explanation for the meeting. But West tweeted about it after leaving Trump Tower:
I wanted to meet with Trump today to discuss multicultural issues.
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) December 13, 2016
These issues included bullying, supporting teachers, modernizing curriculums, and violence in Chicago.
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) December 13, 2016
I feel it is important to have a direct line of communication with our future President if we truly want change.
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) December 13, 2016
#2024
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) December 13, 2016
The last tweet appears to reference the year West plans to run for president. The performer previously—perhaps jokingly—said he would run in 2020. The changed year seems to reflect a belief that Trump will serve two terms in office.
USA Today reports that West previously praised Trump at a San Jose concert in mid-November—one of his last concerts before he cancelled remaining tour dates and checked into UCLA Medical Center for what The New York Times called "exhaustion." TMZ reported admission for a "neverous breakdown," echoing ongoing speculation about the artist’s mental health.