Cheddar has learned exclusively that Grammy-nominated musician and crypto entrepreneur Akon is endorsing bitcoin billionaire Brock Pierce for President of the United States, and will serve as chief strategist for Pierce 2020.

Pierce is a cryptocurrency entrepreneur who announced his run for the Oval Office in July, running as an independent. In 2018, Pierce made Forbes' first-ever list of wealthiest crypto investors in the world, and is a chairman of the nonprofit Bitcoin Foundation. Pierce is also a former child actor, known for his roles in The Mighty Ducks and the Disney original film First Kid.

Akon, whose full name is Aliaume Damala Badara Akon Thiam, says of the endorsement, "I've always known Brock Pierce to be a standup guy. He's a real people's person and he doesn't operate between party lines. We share the same dream of pushing America forward for everyone without showing favoritism to one particular base."

The Don't Matter singer has invested heavily into the crypto space in recent years, recently founding his own digital currency called Akoin and founding Akon City, a "futuristic cryptocurrency themed city," in Senegal. Akon City features a massive investment in local infrastructure; according to bitcoin.com, the $6 billion project, "will include roads, a hospital, a mall, hotels, and a school. There will also be parks, universities, a stadium, and an industrial complex."

At the time of his campaign announcement, the Minnesota-born 39-year-old Pierce said, "Entrepreneurs are essential to the rebuilding of this nation that we love, and I'm running in this race because I know that together we can help build a pathway towards the rebirth of the America we love so much."

The campaign manager for Pierce 2020 is also a familiar face to many: Brittany Kaiser, who is best known from her role as a Cambridge Analytica whistleblower who helped sound the alarm about Facebook's complicity helping the Trump campaign in 2016. Kaiser told Cheddar of the Pierce White House run, "It's inspiring, and a breath of fresh air to have someone who has spent their life really understanding technology putting himself out there as the face of a presidential campaign…he not only understands how to improve and make systems more efficient, but also has a vision for a more inclusive political platform than what is currently being offered by the two big parties."

The Pierce ticket is rounded out by the addition of entrepreneur Karla Ballard for Vice President, who touts years of experience in brand development and corporate partnerships. Ballard said at the time, "My life's work has been devoted to finding solutions and bringing people together across all cultures and party lines and when Brock Pierce approached me to join his visionary campaign as his Vice President, I knew this was the next step I should take in this lifelong mission."

Pierce says in a statement about the Akon endorsement and campaign addition: "Not only is Akon one of the most well-known artists globally, he is a successful global businessman and philanthropist. I started my life as an artist so I have the utmost respect for culture and the arts -- without it we are lost. His aspirations to be in politics, to be in civil service, and what he has accomplished in Africa and beyond will be valuable for our platform on a regional, national, and world-wide level."

Kaiser was quick to note the strength of the Akon endorsement, and the artist's role in the campaign, adding, "Akon is an incredibly inspiring guy and he has so much energy. He's accomplished so much. It's an honor to have him with the team, with his track record of massive success in entertainment but also in entrepreneurship. He's a very important part of the team, especially as we dive into foreign policy issues."

The Brock Pierce campaign is currently on the ballot in eight states and Washington, DC, which is more than any other independent candidacy in 2020, with petitions to join the ballot in several more.

Share:
More In Politics
Biden, Powell Meet on Economy, Inflation as Americans Grapple With Historically High Prices
President Biden and Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell meet at the White House today for the first time since Powell's renomination to the position. The President and the Fed Chair discussed the economy and historically high inflation, as new data shows inflation may be cooling slightly. Morning Consult economic analyst Jesse Wheeler joins Cheddar News' Closing Bell to discuss how the Biden administration at the U.S. central bank can work together to combat soaring prices for American consumers.
Ark. Gov Hutchinson on Abortion Trigger Law, Possible 2024 Presidential Run
In the second part of Cheddar's talk with Governor Asa Hutchinson, the Republican from Arkansas discussed his state's abortion trigger law and the overturning of Roe v. Wade, the Texas law that would prevent social media platform moderation currently being held up by the U.S. Supreme Court, and rumors of his 2024 presidential run. "I did go to New Hampshire. I am testing the waters out there, so no decision at this point. But we're looking at it," he said, noting that if former President Donald Trump runs, it would not affect his own decision.
Congress Optimistic Bipartisan Gun Reform Is Possible
Cheddar Politics looks at the ongoing efforts to pass meaningful gun safety laws in both Chambers of Congress following multiple mass shootings. Lisa Hagen, senior political reporter for U.S. News and World Report, helps break down why Senators are hopeful that a modest bipartisan gun safety package might be able to overcome a filibuster.
NYC Mayor Calls for Gun Detectors in Subways in Wake of Shootings
After two subway shootings in two months and the more recent mass shootings in Uvalde, Texas, and Buffalo, New York, Mayor Eric Adams is calling for gun detection scanners to be installed in New York City subways. The tech would be similar to that used in sporting arenas, however, experts note multiple difficulties with such a setup including the need for nearby human operators.
Baby Formula Crisis Hits 70 Percent Out-of-Stock Rate Nationwide
With the baby formula in the United States surging to an out-of-stock rate of 70 percent, the FDA has given Abbott permission to reopen its Michigan plant amid the crisis and authorized foreign imports. Professor Peter Pitts, a former FDA associate commissioner and current president of the Center for Medicine in the Public Interest, joined Cheddar News to discuss the ongoing shortage and its wide impact. “As difficult as things is in urban areas, they’re even worse in small communities and tribal areas where parents can't just go to the next store on the corner," he said. Pitts also noted that the Abbott factory was a "disaster" prior to its shutdown and that it would have been "regulatory malpractice" to have left it open.
Load More