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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

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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.

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Ed Krayewski is a former associate editor at Reason.

Popular CultureElection 2020Kanye WestKim KardashianMillennialsElection 2016Hillary Clinton
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  1. Sevo   10 years ago

    Trump's got competition now.

    1. Herpes Trismegistus   10 years ago

      He and Trump should team up and run as the "Why the Fuck Not?" Party.

      "Let's give entropy a kick right in the ass! Vote Trump-West and we can build a wall around the bonfire!"

      Two weeks from now, what should just be another rant from a random internet crank will be discussed on the actual news as a viable platform for a run at the Presidency... and it wouldn't even be the craziest bullshit that happened in this election.

      Holy shit, we are doomed.

    2. gaoxiaen   10 years ago

      Yep. Prefer him to Trump, but I hate rap. At least he's a dope-smoker.

  2. Sevo   10 years ago

    And:
    "Marvin Mandel, a former Maryland governor whose 26-year career in state government ended with his 1977 conviction on political corruption charges, has died. He was 95."
    http://www.usnews.com/news/pol.....e-has-died
    Shoulda died in jail, and the NYT (their pages won't 'copy') claims he 'modernized' MD government. I presume that means he cut some of the middlemen between the taxpayer and the crony recipient.

    1. Paul.   10 years ago

      He was a trialblazer. Hillary's standing on the shoulders of giants.

  3. Rhywun   10 years ago

    the ridiculousness of award shows

    "Ridiculous that I attend every single one of them and manage to get myself into the news each time, amirite?"

  4. straffinrun   10 years ago

    Where's the little girl?

    1. Ken Shultz   10 years ago

      Where's the little girl?

      Naw, you got Kayne confused with R. Kelly.

    2. Paul.   10 years ago

      Unrealistic. They would have shot him before he exited the vehicle.

  5. PapayaSF   10 years ago

    So he's going to interrupt the 2020 election?

    1. Sevo   10 years ago

      See? See?
      Trump's got competition now!

  6. d3x / dt3   10 years ago

    He couldn't possibly be worse than Clinton. Plus, we could then have Kim K as First Lady.

    Never mind.

  7. Hugh Akston   10 years ago

    Looks like we need to get to work on Big Boi.

    1. Paul.   10 years ago

      I endorse Luscious Leftfoot for Prez, in 20, bitch.

  8. Ken Shultz   10 years ago

    I guess you gotta post something on a Sunday night.

    I suppose it could have just as easily been about Obama renaming Mt. McKinley or the latest white on black shooting.

    Come on, there must have been a white on black shooting somewhere this afternoon.

    Maybe tomorrow.

  9. Paul.   10 years ago

    So a guy who endorses Hillary in '16 wants to run against her in '20?

    1. Ken Shultz   10 years ago

      That's nothin'.

      In '18, he'll wanna run against her '22.

  10. PapayaSF   10 years ago

    OT: Apparently this is not a parody.

    1. Paul.   10 years ago

      Hmm, the whole thing reads like it was created by the people who "write" for Comedy Bang Bang.

    2. *GILMORE*   10 years ago

      I just learned that Dan Savage is like the tranny SJW's worst enemy... because he's right almost all the time

      "At a certain point, endless Tumblr-enabled debates about sexual identity, gender identity, sexual orientation, and sexual interests take on the flavor of those how-many-angels-can-dance-on-the-head-of-a-pin debates that obsessed theologians in the Middle Ages""

      1. Notorious UGCC   10 years ago

        The pinhead thing is, to put it mildly, not verified.

        http://www.straightdope.com/co.....d-of-a-pin

        1. kevrob   10 years ago
        2. kevrob   10 years ago

          Back when I was an undergrad at a Jesuit university,
          and this came up in a bull session, I had an answer:

          "As many as God wants to have dance."

          How many angels can dance on the point of a very fine needle, without jostling one another?"

          So, no mosh pit, then?

          No matter, as these are just fictional characters, and we can always reboot the franchise.

          Kevin R

  11. Fist of Etiquette   10 years ago

    What are his fence-building qualifications?

  12. Homple   10 years ago

    So he has name recognition, but how is it pronounced; "can yay? can yee? can eye? can ee?"

    He has, I think, a consort named Bouncy. Is that right?

    1. Anomalous   10 years ago

      I pronounce it "can ya."

  13. Fist of Etiquette   10 years ago

    Kadashian isn't some kind of Mexican name, is it?

  14. WTF   10 years ago

    Maybe he can tap Deez Nuts...

    Nice.

  15. Karl Hungus   10 years ago

    I don't know about you people, but he has my vote.

    1. Almanian - Trump's Woodchipper   10 years ago

      You're a LOSER! #TRUMP2016

      /Trump Voice

  16. Eman   10 years ago

    I'd rather hear Donald trump "rap" than Kanye west. He's legit the worst rapper ever. I don't even think he's a good producer, which is people's usual cop out

  17. Stephdumas   10 years ago

    If he become president and got a street named for him. Will Chris Rock do a joke about Kayne West Blvd like he did with MLK Blvd? đŸ˜‰

    1. Anomalous   10 years ago

      Only if he gets assassinated.

  18. chrisb12   10 years ago

    hahah at least he's being an entertainer! His material is providing hilarious stuff like these t-shirts i found online. whoever made these is genius lol
    https://represent.com/yes-we-kanye-1?var=art

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