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Is Kanye West Trying To Steal Votes For Donald Trump With 2020 Presidential Bid?

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Kanye West chose the most American of holidays — the Fourth of July — to announce he’s running for president (supposedly for real this time). On Saturday evening (July 4), the G.O.O.D. Music founder fired off a tweet vowing to be on the 2020 ballot.

“We must now realize the promise of America by trusting God, unifying our vision and building our future. I am running for president of the United States!” he wrote. “#2020VISION.”

Kanye’s announcement, of course, is being met with mixed reactions. For years, Ye has been an outspoken supporter of Donald Trump, causing division among his longtime fans. Some people are concerned if he were to get on the 2020 ballot, he could split the vote and possibly hand the re-election to the current POTUS.

Others are all for it, adopting a “2020 is already trash” attitude, lumping the news in with the police killing of George Floyd, COVID-19 and the deaths of Breonna Taylor and Elijah McClain, again at the hands of police.

The Grammy Award-winning artist has toyed with the idea of running for office numerous times. Shortly after the 2016 election, he spoke about his intentions to throw his name in the ring during an interview with the BBC.

“When I talk about the idea of being president, I’m not saying I have any political views,” he explained. “I don’t have views on politics, I just have a view on humanity, on people, on the truth. If there is anything that I can do with my time and my day, to somehow make a difference while I’m alive I’m going to try to do it.”

If Kanye is indeed serious about running for president this year — and not just promoting his forthcoming God’s Country album — it’d have to be as a write-in candidate. He’s already missed the filing deadlines for several states and wouldn’t have his name listed on the ballot.

As Kanye continues to be a trending Twitter topic on good ol’ Independence Day, check out some of the initial reactions below.