Reason.com - Free Minds and Free Markets
Reason logo Reason logo
  • Latest
  • Magazine
    • Current Issue
    • Archives
    • Subscribe
    • Crossword
  • Video
  • Podcasts
    • All Shows
    • The Reason Roundtable
    • The Reason Interview With Nick Gillespie
    • The Soho Forum Debates
    • Just Asking Questions
    • The Best of Reason Magazine
    • Why We Can't Have Nice Things
  • Volokh
  • Newsletters
  • Donate
    • Donate Online
    • Donate Crypto
    • Ways To Give To Reason Foundation
    • Torchbearer Society
    • Planned Giving
  • Subscribe
    • Reason Plus Subscription
    • Print Subscription
    • Gift Subscriptions
    • Subscriber Support

Login Form

Create new account
Forgot password

Popular Culture

Kanye West Announces Presidential Bid in 2020, Claims Millennial Status

Endorsed Hillary Clinton earlier this month.

Ed Krayewski | 8.30.2015 11:30 PM

Share on FacebookShare on XShare on RedditShare by emailPrint friendly versionCopy page URL
Media Contact & Reprint Requests
Large image on homepages | Instagram
(Instagram)
MTV

There is an MTV award show on tonight, which you can watch on the music television or follow along on Twitter. There's a bunch of celebrities you know and probably a bunch you don't, and they make you feel old by telling you about how they were 12 when they bought their first album on iTunes. It's a millennial thing.

And 38-year-old rapper Kanye West believes himself to be a Millennial, that demographic cohort generally defined as being born between 1982 to 2000. MTV picked Taylor Swift to present him with a video vanguard award, because he famously interrupted her at another awards show a few years ago. West gave a rather long speech, which he ended by announcing he'd be running for president in 2020. Via The Verge:

Kanye West received the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award at tonight's MTV Video Music Awards, and he closed his acceptance speech by announcing he's running for president in 2020. Yes, really…

West… spoke at length about being changed by fatherhood, defending artistry, the hypocrisy of media, the ridiculousness of award shows, and smoking a little something before getting up on stage "to take the edge off." Yes, really! (Just one of many choice quotes: "I will die for the art, and for what I believe in — and the art ain't always gonna be polite!")

Instagram

Maybe he can tap Deez Nuts as a running mate.

As S.E. Cupp noted, West's comments suggest he believes a Republican will win in 2016 or that a Democratic winner would be a one-termer. West followed his wife, reality star Kim Kardashian, in endorsing Hillary Clinton for president earlier this month.

Related: Millennial polling and the federal government cracking down on Kim Kardashian selfie

Update: Here's a transcript of the speech via Complex.com.

Start your day with Reason. Get a daily brief of the most important stories and trends every weekday morning when you subscribe to Reason Roundup.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

NEXT: Vid: How Legal Marijuana Is Working in Colorado

Ed Krayewski is a former associate editor at Reason.

Popular CultureElection 2020Kanye WestKim KardashianMillennialsElection 2016Hillary Clinton
Share on FacebookShare on XShare on RedditShare by emailPrint friendly versionCopy page URL
Media Contact & Reprint Requests

Show Comments (34)

Latest

Newly Released Documents Show What the Feds Knew About the New Jersey Drone Scare

Matthew Petti | 5.9.2025 12:31 PM

New York's Biggest Budget Doubles Down on the Mistakes Driving People Out

Gregory Lyakhov | 5.9.2025 12:15 PM

Trump Is Wrong. Cheap Goods Are Awesome.

Emma Camp | 5.9.2025 11:15 AM

Bernie Sanders: American Success Story

Liz Wolfe | 5.9.2025 9:41 AM

The EPA Is a Prime Candidate for Reform by the Trump Administration

J.D. Tuccille | 5.9.2025 7:00 AM

Recommended

  • About
  • Browse Topics
  • Events
  • Staff
  • Jobs
  • Donate
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
  • Contact
  • Media
  • Shop
  • Amazon
Reason Facebook@reason on XReason InstagramReason TikTokReason YoutubeApple PodcastsReason on FlipboardReason RSS

© 2024 Reason Foundation | Accessibility | Privacy Policy | Terms Of Use

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

r

Do you care about free minds and free markets? Sign up to get the biggest stories from Reason in your inbox every afternoon.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

This modal will close in 10

Reason Plus

Special Offer!

  • Full digital edition access
  • No ads
  • Commenting privileges

Just $25 per year

Join Today!