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Kanye West: Rapper ridiculed by celebrities after announcing presidential bid

Paris Hilton joked she wanted to become president and paint the White House pink

Ellie Harrison
Wednesday 08 July 2020 17:06 BST
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Kanye West brings his Sunday Service gospel choir to Paris Fashion Week

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Kanye West has been trolled by celebrities after announcing he plans to run for president in the 2020 US election.

The rapper made the announcement with just four months to go until polling day on 3 November. He said he would run as a Republican if Donald Trump drops out or as an independent if he does not. West has yet to file the required federal paperwork and is too late to appear on certain state ballots.

“We must now realise the promise of America by trusting God, unifying our vision and building our future,” West tweeted on Independence Day. “I am running for president of the United States.”

While Tesla billionaire Elon Musk and West’s wife and reality star Kim Kardashian tweeted their support, many stars ridiculed the artist for his tweet.

Comedian Tiffany Haddish announced that she, too, would be running for president, copying West’s tweet word-for-word. She then joked that fellow comic Dave Chappelle would be running alongside her as her potential Vice President.

Paris Hilton also declared her candidacy, with a video of herself posing in different outfits and sunglasses, and saying she would want to surround herself with “hot” staff who would be “honest” and tell you when “your outfit doesn’t look cute”. She pledged to paint the White House pink.

Actor Octavia Spencer made it clear West would not be getting her vote. "Too much foolishness today. #SitAllTheWayDown," she wrote. "It's obvious that some people live in a bubble. It's about time to burst it. #2020vision."

Lizzie McGuire star Hilary Duff and singer Toni Braxton jokingly announced they would be running for president in this year’s election, too.

West previously teased he would run for president in 2024.

“If I decide to do it, it will be done, I’m not going to try,” he said in a radio interview with Power 92 Chicago’s DJ Pharris, adding: “Yes, 100 per cent it could happen… 2024.”

In 2018, West visited Donald Trump at the White House while wearing a “Make America Great Again” cap. He said of the president: “I love this guy right here.”

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