Kanye West has officially abandoned his presidential aspirations…not that there seemed to be any real shot that he was a serious player for the highest office in the land.
According to West’s personal attorney, Bruce Marks, the rapper will not be seeking the presidency in 2024. The musician had previously stated that he intended to run again after a failed bid for the position in 2020, but now it seems those dreams are over, at least for this election cycle.
Marks confirmed West’s decision to Rolling Stone, stating, “He’s not a candidate for office in 2024.” The definitive announcement signals the end of any active presidential campaign efforts led by the rapper, who once aimed to challenge the traditional political landscape.
Another source that spoke to the music magazine claimed that while nothing is impossible when it comes to West, the chance that the hip-hop powerhouse will reverse this choice and get back into the race is “beyond remote.”
The rapper’s campaign was always unconventional, as he didn’t run as either a Republican or a Democrat. He announced his plans to seek the presidency as a member of his own Birthday Party. He initially introduced the organization in July, 2020, and it was assumed he was still running under that banner in 2023.
In 2020, West’s performance in the presidential race—which was largely between incumbent Donald Trump and former Vice President and now-President Joe Biden—was, in a word, embarrassing. After spending a reported $9 million of his own money on his campaign, which didn’t feature many of the usual events, speeches and ads that most running for president employ, he failed to secure even 100,000 votes.
In fact, West was so unpopular, he only made it onto the ballots in 12 states.
Instead of running for president, West is focused on finding a way to bring his music career back to the heights it once knew. The rapper decimated his own standing in the music industry in the past few years after going on a number of antisemitic rants, which got him dropped from all of his brand deals and banned from some social media.
West is reportedly nearly finished with a new album, seemingly with Ty Dolla $ign. He has played the music for friends, and is holed up in Italy working on the as-yet-untitled project, which could arrive at any time.
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