Entertainment

Nope, Kanye Won't Be Singing For Donald Trump

by Amy Mackelden
TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty Images

Despite Kanye West's regular declarations that he wants to run for president in 2020, it seemed unlikely that the rapper would ever be a fan of Donald Trump. However, life continues to shock and astound, so when Kanye met with Trump at Trump Tower in Dec. 2016, it felt strangely normal. While I can't totally comprehend why Kim Kardashian's husband feels the need to associate with Trump, I'll accept that the pair are now friends on some weird level. So, why isn't Kanye at Trump's inauguration? Shouldn't he be supporting his newfound friend?

While some expected Kanye to perform at the inauguration, Trump's Inaugural Committee chair, Tom Barrack, told CNN,

"We haven't asked him. He considers himself a friend of the president-elect, but it's not the venue. The venue we have for entertainment is filled out, it's perfect, it's going to be typically and traditionally American."

Whether or not Kanye was ever asked to perform at the inauguration will remain a secret, or be revealed on Kardashian's Snapchat at a later date. Still, it's strange that a member of Trump's committee would say the reason Kanye isn't invited to perform is because the event is "typically and traditionally American." Kanye was born in Atlanta and grew up in Chicago. Just sayin'.

Trump has reportedly struggled to secure famous performers for his inauguration, with a whole host of celebrities refusing to appear or attend the event. According to People, a source has confirmed to them that Kanye won't be going to Washington D.C. for the inauguration on Jan. 20, despite being a supporter of Trump. It's possible that Kanye doesn't want to attend the inauguration because of the public and political nature of the event, choosing instead to take private meetings with the president-elect.

While Kanye won't be at the inauguration, the rapper seems keen on maximizing his connection to Trump, and tweeted that the pair discussed several important issues at their meeting at the Trump Tower in Dec. 2016. From schooling, to violence, to bullying, Kanye is trying to keep a dialogue going with the soon-to-be president, and that can (hopefully) only be a good thing.