During the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards, Kanye West announced he would run for president of the United States in the 2020 election. At the time, his bid seemed as if it could never be successful. But since then, reality star Donald Trump has easily secured the Republican nomination for presidency. So, with Americans seeming to be more ambivalent about the state of the union than ever, maybe Kanye has a real shot at this.
At the 2016 Governors Ball festival in New York City, TheHuffington Post asked multiple musicians whether they thought Kanye would make a good president. A few musicians declined to answer that question -- perhaps out of fear President Kanye would someday retaliate -- but most of the musicians that did share their thoughts did not believe the Chicago native would be qualified.
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Here are a few of Kanye's peers -- although he is actually peerless -- on his bid for the presidency.
Of Monsters and Men think Kanye is multi-talented, but would be a bad president.
Ragnar Þórhallsson, one of the lead singers and guitarists for Of Monsters and Men, felt it wouldn't work out for Kanye. When asked whether the artist would make a good president, Þórhallsson said: "No I don't think so. Not at all. No."
He did have something nice to say about Kanye at least, as he added, "Very good at many other things, though. But I doubt president, no."
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Of Monsters and Men are from Iceland and therefore could not vote in an American presidential election.
Bloc Party thinks Kanye doesn't have the qualifications, but he could be better than the Terminator or Trump.
Russell Lissack, the guitarist and a founding member of Bloc Party, felt uninformed about the issue and started his response by saying, "I don't know enough about him." At this, Louise Bartle, the drummer for Bloc Party, clapped and span around, perhaps encouraging Lissack to continue as he said, "I don't know his political qualifications. I like his music, but I don't think a talented musician is enough to be president. But then again, the Terminator can be the governor so maybe it could work out."
Bartle then added, "I don't know, maybe we should try it out and see what happens. It might be better than Mr. Trump."
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HuffPost mentioned that it could be a good debate if Trump faced Kanye, to which Bartle responded, "Yeah, yeah, he should run!"
Both Lissack and Bartle are British and therefore could not vote in an American presidential election.
Day Wave thinks Kanye's confidence might help him run the country.
Jackson Phillips, aka Day Wave, was a bit more trusting of the artist's chances.
"Kanye seems very sure of himself, and that's a good quality for a presidential candidate," said Phillips. "Most of all he makes rad music, but I'm not sure if that really matters when you're president."
Phillips is a United States citizen and therefore could vote in an American presidential election.
Bully thinks Kanye would be terrible, but might as well face Trump.
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Multiple members of the band Bully suggested that Kanye would make an awful president. Lead singer Alicia Bognanno added the artist would be "better than Trump," though.
At this, the band then agreed that nobody should be president.
Bully are American citizens and therefore could vote in an American presidential election.
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