*By Max Godnick* Kanye West was slinging optimistic platitudes last month, courting conservative thought leaders, and increasing his public profile. Could a trip to Iowa be next? The rapper's recent Twitter activity has caused some pundits to speculate about his political ambitions. In April, West expressed his "love" for President Trump and wore a "Make America Great Again" hat in [a photo](https://twitter.com/kanyewest/status/989222392630202368). He said he "likes the way" the right-wing commentator Candace Owens thinks, and released a new song with the lyric: "I know Obama was heaven-sent, but ever since Trump won, it proved that I could be president." West had teased a potential White House run in September 2015 at MTV's Video Music Awards, where he announced, "I have decided in 2020 to run for president." Last week, he appeared to postpone his plan, cryptically tweeting ["2024"](https://twitter.com/kanyewest/status/988984329295441921). "I could see him trying," said Brande Victorian, the managing editor of MadameNoire, a Black women's lifestyle site. "I mean, we didn't think Trump would be here." Republicans have embraced West's newly-public political musings. Donald Trump Jr. [tweeted a photo](https://twitter.com/DonaldJTrumpJr/status/990930382685196288) Monday of West with Owens and the conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Victorian said Tuesday in an interview with Cheddar she was skeptical that West could convince his fans to fully get behind conservatives. "You're asking virtually everyone who the party does not care about to all of a sudden have empathy for this group, which is nonsensical," she said. For full interview, [click here](https://cheddar.com/videos/will-kanye-west-run-for-president).

Share:
More In Culture
In Entertainment: Harry and Meghan Back in the UK, Cartoon Union & Post Malone
Catching you up on entertainment headlines with Queen Elizabeth II missing the Platinum Jubilee church service after experiencing discomfort during yesterday’s celebration, Harry and Meghan Markle made their first return to Britain after quitting their royal duties, the Animation Guild looking to unionize production and IT workers at popular shows like the "The Simpsons" and "Family Guy," Post Malone dropping his new album “Twelve Carat Toothache’, and more.
Supporting Female Founders in VC; Workplace Resources for LGBTQ+ Community
On this episode of ChedHER: Tiffany Johnson, CEO of Built for Launch, discusses the Black Founders Ecom Pledge that provides tools and resources for Black founders to build, launch, and scale a successful e-commerce business; Alexa von Tobel, Founder and Managing Partner of Inspired Capital, and Leoni Runge, Founder of Zaya, breaks down the state of maternal care and support for female founders in venture capital; Hannah Schwab, Global Co-Chair of Gender Expansive Council at JPMorgan Chase, explains the goal of the Gender Expansive Council and what kind of resources organizations can offer to support the LGBT+ community.
Supporting Female Founders in VC
Alexa von Tobel, Founder and Managing Partner of Inspired Capital, and Leoni Runge, Founder of Zaya, join ChedHER to discuss the state of maternal care and support for female founders in venture capital.
From Hibiscus to Ube Cheesecake: Celebrating National Doughnut Day
Today is National Doughnut Day! Cheddar News celebrated with Steven Klein, the owner of Dough Doughnuts in New York City, who joined us with some delicious samples from hibiscus flavored to ube cheesecake. "It's a fun fest that people love doughnuts, and it's a way of celebrating doughnuts that people just want to try, and they want to try with their friends, their offices, their parties, their groups," said Klein. "So we get inundated in all our stores with lines of people coming to buy multiple doughnuts to celebrate the day."
GUN LAWS IN OTHER COUNTRIES
While the United States struggles with mass shootings, other countries have had success with gun regulations - often after their own mass shootings. On this Gun Awareness Day, Cheddar's Shannon LaNier reports on steps some other countries have taken to stop gun violence.
Load More