LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: In a surprising turn of events, Kanye West officially announced that he has abandoned his plans to run for President in 2024.
The Grammy-winning artist's attorney Bruce Marks confirmed this decision, unequivocally stating, "He is not a candidate for office in 2024," in a conversation with Rolling Stone.
Kanye, also known by his legal name Ye, initially stirred the political landscape in November 2022 when he revealed his intentions to run for the 2024 presidential elections, following his previous unsuccessful attempt in 2020.
A source closely associated with Kanye's 2020 campaign echoed Marks' statement, emphasizing that there is no concrete plan in place, and no campaign structure has been established for a 2024 run.
Furthermore, the insider described the likelihood of the enigmatic entertainer reversing his decision and launching a YE24 campaign as "beyond remote."
Kanye 2020 committee winds down operations
Adding to the mounting evidence of his withdrawal from the political scene, Kanye's political committee, "Kanye 2020," filed documents with the Federal Election Commission in October.
These documents, as reported by Rolling Stone, reflect the decision not to pursue a presidential bid. Notably, the committee is currently being overseen by its treasurer, and recent financial activity indicates a winding down of operations, with less than $25,000 on hand.
The catalyst for Kanye's shift away from politics may be traced back to an interview with filmmaker Adam Camacho, who was commissioned by the artist to create a documentary in November 2022.
Camacho disclosed that Kanye had expressed a change in focus, asserting, "Right now, I am living my life—like I'm concentrating on the school, The Donda Academy, and my new wife, and my kids, and that's it." Kanye, known for chart-toppers like Famous', had added, "I just want to be left alone."
Echoing these sentiments, an anonymous employee within Kanye's company emphasized that the artist's interests have shifted towards his family, children, and creative endeavors.
This source went further to assert, "Anyone that is representing Ye in any political capacity is a charlatan. There is no political shop."
Kanye's political journey took flight when he emerged as an independent candidate for the 2020 US presidential election.
Kanye's previous political pursuits
Official paperwork was filed with the Federal Election Commission on July 15, 2020, with Kanye adopting the 'BDY' Party label for his campaign.
In the end, he managed to garner approximately 60,000 votes in 12 states where he was featured on the ballot.
High-profile meeting with President Trump
Kanye's political aspirations began to gain public attention even before 2020, thanks to a high-profile meeting with then-President Donald Trump at the White House in 2018.
During this meeting, he addressed various issues, from the 13th Amendment to US manufacturing, all while donning a red 'Make America Great Again' hat and offering repeated compliments to Trump.
Kanye remarked, "It was something about when I put this hat on, it made me feel like Superman. You made a Superman cape for me, also, as someone who looks up to you ... looks up to American industry guys."
When asked if he believed Kanye could be a future presidential candidate, Trump had then responded he "could very well be." Kanye chimed in, "Only after 2024," adding, "Let's stop worrying about the future, all we really have is today."
As Kanye West bows out of the 2024 presidential race, he enters a new chapter in his life, refocusing on his family, creative ventures, and the Donda Academy, a testament to the ever-evolving journey of one of the music industry's most iconic figures.
While his political ambitions have taken a back seat, fans and followers eagerly await the next creative exploits of the enigmatic artist.
Kanye West not running for president sparked reactions online
The news about Kanye West not running for president in 2024 sparked a range of reactions online as it surfaced on X, formerly Twitter.
One commented, "No one was gonna vote anyways." "F**k who am i gon vote now?" another added. One replied, "Damn bro I thought he gonna win."
Another person noted, "If he was gonna run, he would get more votes than anyone else just because of who he is."
"I would’ve voted for him just for the vibes tbh," a fifth person wrote.
