Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Caitlyn Jenner jokes she will be Kanye West’s running mate in 2020 election bid

Rapper has missed filing deadlines in various states but is getting on the ballot in others

Andrew Naughtie
Friday 17 July 2020 11:11 BST
Comments
Kanye West performs to inmates at Harris County jail

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Reality TV star and former Olympic decathlete Caitlyn Jenner joked on Thursday that she might consider putting herself forward to be Kanye West’s running mate.

Her informal application for the role came as Mr West filed federal papers to officially become a candidate and managed to secure a place on the presidential ballot in Oklahoma — contradicting reports that he has ended his quixotic campaign almost immediately after he announced it.

Ms Jenner was making her way out of a Starbucks in Westlake Village, California when she was ambushed by a reporter from TMZ, who asked if she planned to vote for Mr West.

“Or will I just text him and say I’ll be your VP?” she said. “What a combination!”

Asked by the reporter if she’s actually going to do it, she laughingly replied: “We’ll see”. Whether the exchange has actually happened is unclear.

Mr West, who says he envisions transforming the US into something like Wakanda, the fictional nation featured in superhero movie Black Panther, has already mentioned a running mate: Michelle Tidball, a relatively obscure self-described “biblical life coach” whom Mr West seems to have met in Wyoming.

However, Ms Tidball’s candidacy has not been made official, nor has she made any clear public statements about it — meaning an offer Ms Jenner’s might yet be accepted.

Mr West’s campaign has been met with both enthusiasm and concern by other celebrities. And while erratic entrepreneur Elon Musk initially appeared to support him, he has since said that the two “may have more differences of opinion than I anticipated”.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in