President Donald Trump will meet with rapper Kanye West later this week, according to White House officials.
Trump and Jared Kushner, the president’s son-in-law, will meet with West on Thursday to discuss a myriad of topics, White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said.
“Kanye West is coming to the White House to have lunch with President Trump and he will also meet with Jared Kushner,” Sanders said, according to pool reports. “Topics of discussions will include manufacturing resurgence in America, prison reform, how to prevent gang violence, and what can be done to reduce violence in Chicago.”
The meeting between the three men comes amid political tensions that have crossed over into the music world. West has been outspoken in support of Trump lately and his politics have prompted other musicians to speak up.
After praising West, right-wing personalities criticized singer Taylor Swift for her endorsement of Phil Bredesen over Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) in the state’s U.S. Senate race next month. Swift’s post appears to have ignited many people to register to vote.
West, meanwhile, was praised by conservatives after he went on an off-air rant praising Trump during the season premiere of Saturday Night Live late last month. During the speech, West was wearing a “Make America Great Again” hat.
The president himself weighed in on the rant the day after SNL aired.
“Like many, I don’t watch Saturday Night Live (even though I past hosted it) – no longer funny, no talent or charm. It is just a political ad for the Dems. Word is that Kanye West, who put on a MAGA hat after the show (despite being told ‘no’), was great. He’s leading the charge!” he wrote.
Like many, I don’t watch Saturday Night Live (even though I past hosted it) – no longer funny, no talent or charm. It is just a political ad for the Dems. Word is that Kanye West, who put on a MAGA hat after the show (despite being told “no”), was great. He’s leading the charge!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 30, 2018
The news of the upcoming lunch between Trump and the rapper was met with bemusement online.
Reassuring to know Trump is getting serious about prison reform and reducing gang violence by having a private meeting with… Kanye West.
— Jennifer Bendery (@jbendery) October 9, 2018
https://twitter.com/HEXAMIS/status/1049652753117696002
Noted expert on manufacturing, prison reform, and policing, #KanyeWest, will share his wisdom with #trump, who knows even less about all those things than Kanye does. https://t.co/Ph5hetmlXV
— Evan McKenzie 🏰 (@evanmck) October 9, 2018
Can you blame #Kanye? In a room with just #Trump and #Kushner, he's suddenly the least crazy, most qualified person at the party. Everybody deserves to feel normal for a bit.
— Garett Press (@garettpress) October 9, 2018
https://twitter.com/freeloosedirt/status/1049654771156582400
Others noted the rift with Swift.
Those same Republicans blasting Taylor Swift for poking her nose into politics and demanding she ‘stick to music’ are the same ones overcome with joy and support at Kanye West speaking up for Trump.
— Mike (@Mike_P_Williams) October 9, 2018
Funny, that.
So Kanye gets a meeting to talk about issues, but Taylor Swift gets told to shut up when she speaks her opinion?? Makes total sense. Not even taking political sides here, it’s literally is dumb.
— Opie Neff (@opieneff) October 9, 2018
Republicans yesterday: Taylor Swift is a pop star, no one cares what she thinks. She should shut up & play music.
— Kimma (@Kimma_S) October 9, 2018
Republicans today: Kanye is meeting with Trump & Kushner to advise them. isn't that fantastic?!?!
https://twitter.com/schatz_rashad/status/1049649761488388096
https://twitter.com/JarodNotJared/status/1049647248802500610
In May, Kim Kardashian, West’s wife, went to the White House, where she spoke to the president and successfully lobbied him to commute the sentence of a grandmother serving a lengthy sentence for a non-violent drug offense.
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