Views of Kanye West#2025

{{Short description|none}}

{{Use American English|date=February 2023}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2023}}

File:Kanye West makes an appearance at the Georgetown Apple Store (44831849284).jpg, about his meeting with President Donald Trump]]

The American rapper Kanye West has garnered mainstream attention for his outspoken views on numerous political and social issues. He supported the political campaigns of Barack Obama in 2008 and 2012, Hillary Clinton in 2016, initially supported Donald Trump in 2020 until launching his own campaign, and supported Trump once more in 2024.{{Cite magazine|url= https://www.billboard.com/lists/musicians-endorsing-donald-trump-president-2024/|title=Musicians Supporting Donald Trump in the 2024 Presidential Election|magazine=Billboard }} In his unsuccessful run for President of the United States in 2020, he espoused consistent life ethic and other Christian positions. His subsequent campaign in the 2024 election was active for several months in late 2022, although no formal paperwork was filed.

In the past, West has opposed abortion, capital punishment, and welfare, and supported gun rights and gay marriage. His views grew more radical following his divorce from Kim Kardashian. In December 2022, West said he admired Adolf Hitler, publicly denied the Holocaust, and identified as a Nazi in an interview with Alex Jones's Infowars.{{cite web |last1=Romano |first1=Aja |date=12 October 2022 |title=Kanye West's antisemitic spiral, explained |url=https://www.vox.com/culture/23400851/kanye-west-antisemitism-hitler-praise |access-date=2022-12-02 |website=Vox |archive-date=December 2, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221202075657/https://www.vox.com/culture/23400851/kanye-west-antisemitism-hitler-praise |url-status=live }}{{Cite magazine |last=Levin |first=Bess |date=December 1, 2022 |title=Kanye West, Donald Trump's Dining Companion, Tells Alex Jones, "I'm a Nazi," Lists Things He Loves About Hitler |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2022/12/kanye-west-alex-jones-donald-trump-hitler |magazine=Vanity Fair |access-date=December 5, 2022 |archive-date=December 3, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221203133234/http://www.vanityfair.com/news/2022/12/kanye-west-alex-jones-donald-trump-hitler |url-status=live }} In a rant on Twitter in February 2025, West made antisemitic comments, praised Hitler, and defended the rapper Sean "Diddy" Combs from sexual abuse allegations. West initially claimed that his rant was a "social experiment", but later retracted his statement and reaffirmed his views.{{Cite web |last=Naveed |first=Fizza |date=2025-02-08 |title=Kanye West claims 12-hour antisemitic X Rant was a 'social experiment', gains 350,000 new followers |url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/2527296/kanye-west-claims-12-hour-antisemitic-x-rant-was-a-social-experiment-gains-350000-new-followers?amp=1 |access-date=2025-02-19 |website=The Express Tribune |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2025-02-08 |title=Kanye West shares vile swastika T-shirt and calls it his 'greatest art' in new tirade |url=https://uk.news.yahoo.com/kanye-west-shares-vile-swastika-122846330.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAIcYwDavPekXaUSrp-bGNhJ5Cf-1pqnXoDC2ZWRmbZUJHgJS8_hDeXSjg9b5ZO3EztFVELuxzpxysGFdZrmS1tgjJedCqOUiOeeZPLft4-Fm6snEOlCK2-S23GuiYuEvT8DJSIxs5JGQDhp2-9zasYVcpjfmOf27m3PjmX-G4-Cm |access-date=2025-02-19 |website=Yahoo News |language=en-GB}} He has been widely condemned and lost many sponsors and partnerships.{{Cite web |last1=Staff |last2=Sharf |first2=Zack |date=2025-02-08 |title=Kanye West Condemned for Spewing 'Anti-Jewish Hatred' |url=https://au.variety.com/2025/music/global/kanye-west-nazi-antisemitic-rant-adl-slams-rapper-20112/ |access-date=2025-02-20 |website=Variety Australia |language=en-AU}}{{Cite web |last=Tinoco |first=Armando |date=2025-02-07 |title=Kanye West Condemned After Praising Hitler In Antisemitic Rant On Elon Musk's X Platform |url=https://deadline.com/2025/02/kanye-west-condemned-antisemitic-rant-elon-musks-x-platform-1236281637/ |access-date=2025-02-20 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=DeFrank |first=Daren |date=2025-02-13 |title=Fox TV Condemns 'Appalling' Kanye West Super Bowl Ad for Swastika Tees: 'We Regret These Commercials Aired' |url=https://www.thewrap.com/fox-ceo-condemns-kanye-west-super-bowl-antisemitic-ad/ |access-date=2025-02-20 |website=TheWrap |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Voytko-Best |first=Lisette |title=Billionaire No More: Kanye West's Antisemitism Obliterates His Net Worth As Adidas Cuts Ties |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/lisettevoytko/2022/10/25/billionaire-no-more-kanye-wests-anti-semitism-obliterates-his-net-worth-as-adidas-cuts-ties/ |access-date=2025-02-20 |website=Forbes |language=en}}{{Cite magazine |last=Bowenbank |first=Anna Chan,Rania Aniftos,Hannah Dailey,Starr |date=2025-02-12 |title=A Timeline of the Consequences Ye Has Faced for His 'WLM' Shirts & Antisemitic Hate Speech |url=https://www.billboard.com/lists/kanye-west-hate-speech-consequences-timeline/ |access-date=2025-02-20 |magazine=Billboard |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Shanfeld |first=Thania Garcia,Ethan |date=2022-10-27 |title=Kanye West Says He Lost $2 Billion in One Day After Antisemitic Comments: 'This Is Love Speech' |url=https://variety.com/2022/music/news/kanye-west-responds-lost-money-antisemitism-adidas-caa-dropped-1235412726/ |access-date=2025-02-20 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}

Social issues

=Abortion=

{{Further|Black genocide in the United States}}

In October 2019, West (then a devout Evangelical Christian) spoke out against abortion, citing his belief in the Fifth Commandment; "thou shalt not kill".{{Cite magazine|title=Kanye West Claimed Democrats Make Black People Kill Their Children |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/kanye-west-interview-big-boy-democrats-abortion-and-plan-b/|first=Susan|last=Rinkunas |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191215155700/https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/zmj5b8/kanye-west-interview-big-boy-democrats-abortion-and-plan-b |archive-date=December 15, 2019|date=October 28, 2019|access-date=July 5, 2020 |magazine=Vice}} In an October 2022 interview with Tucker Carlson, Kanye West stated that he is anti-abortion, claiming that "there are more Black babies being aborted than born in New York City at this point. That 50% of Black death in America is abortion".{{cite web|url=https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/kanye-west-tucker-carlson-abortion-trump-white-lives-matter-010131477.html|title=Kanye West defends pro-life stance to Tucker Carlson: 'I perform for an audience of 1 and that is God'|work=Yahoo! Enterntainment|first=Taryn|last=Ryder|date=October 7, 2022|access-date=December 7, 2022|archive-date=December 6, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221206133036/https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/kanye-west-tucker-carlson-abortion-trump-white-lives-matter-010131477.html|url-status=live}} That same month, he repeated these claims on a podcast with Lex Fridman, saying that "Fifty percent today of ... Black people's deaths today is abortion.... It's not racism; that's too wide of a term. It's genocide and population control that Black people are in today in America, that is promoted by the music and the media that Black people make, that Jewish record labels get paid off of".{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2022-10-24/kanye-west-lex-fridman-antisemitism-podcast|title=Kanye West assails Jews, abortion in new interview with Lex Fridman|work=Los Angeles Times|first1=August|last1=Brown|first2=Anousha|last2=Sakoui|date=October 24, 2022|access-date=December 7, 2022|archive-date=December 7, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221207014802/https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2022-10-24/kanye-west-lex-fridman-antisemitism-podcast|url-status=live}}

=Death penalty=

In 2020, West said he was against capital punishment.{{cite web |title=Kanye West picks 'biblical life coach' as presidential running mate |url=https://premierchristian.news/en/news/article/kanye-west-picks-biblical-life-coach-as-presidential-running-mate2 |publisher=Premier Christian Radio |access-date=August 31, 2020 |language=en |date=July 10, 2020 |archive-date=August 12, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200812180559/https://premierchristian.news/en/news/article/kanye-west-picks-biblical-life-coach-as-presidential-running-mate2 |url-status=live }}[https://www.forbes.com/sites/randalllane/2020/07/08/kanye-west-says-hes-done-with-trump-opens-up-about-white-house-bid-damaging-biden-and-everything-in-between/ Kanye West Says He's Done With Trump—Opens Up About White House Bid, Damaging Biden And Everything In Between] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200708062958/https://www.forbes.com/sites/randalllane/2020/07/08/kanye-west-says-hes-done-with-trump-opens-up-about-white-house-bid-damaging-biden-and-everything-in-between/ |date=July 8, 2020 }} Forbes. 8 July 2020

=LGBTQ rights=

{{Update|section|date=April 2025}}

West has spoken in support of gay marriage.{{Cite web |last=Andrews |first=Travis M. |date=2013-04-02 |title=Hip-hop goes for gay marriage |url=https://www.salon.com/2013/04/02/hip_hop_goes_for_gay_marriage/ |access-date=2023-01-27 |website=Salon |language=en |archive-date=January 27, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230127081656/https://www.salon.com/2013/04/02/hip_hop_goes_for_gay_marriage/ |url-status=live }} In a 2005 MTV News interview with Sway Calloway, West spoke out against homophobia in hip hop music, recalling: "I remember my cousin told me that another one of my cousins was gay, and at that point was the turning point where I was like, 'Yo, this is my cousin, I love him. I've been discriminating against gays. Do I discriminate against my cousin?'"{{Cite magazine |last=Aderoju |first=Darlene |date=2021-08-05 |title=Kanye West's 2005 Interview About Hip-Hop Homophobia Resurfaces After DaBaby Controversy |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/kanye-west-2005-interview-hip-hop-homophobia-dababy-9611186/ |access-date=2022-12-03 |magazine=Billboard |archive-date=December 3, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221203075532/https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/kanye-west-2005-interview-hip-hop-homophobia-dababy-9611186/ |url-status=live }}

In a 2022 interview for Censored.TV with Gavin McInnes, West stated: "You know, the thing about that, 95 percent of gay people don't get married anyway. So it's a very liberal thing that is put up to like cause these headlines. All my policies are gonna follow the Bible."{{cite web |last1=Smith |first1=Ryan |title=Kanye West Eyes Candace Owens as His Vice President: 'She Should Be Good' |url=https://www.newsweek.com/kanye-west-candace-owens-vice-president-2024-election-1765008 |website=Newsweek |date=December 6, 2022 |access-date=15 December 2022 |archive-date=December 15, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221215194942/https://www.newsweek.com/kanye-west-candace-owens-vice-president-2024-election-1765008 |url-status=live }}

=Mental health=

West was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 2016.{{Cite web |date=July 29, 2020 |title=Kim Kardashian West Is Right. We Need To Confront The Stigma Around Bipolar Disorder |url=https://www.vogue.co.uk/beauty/article/bipolar-disorder-kanye-west |access-date=2022-10-26 |website=British Vogue |language=en-GB}} His 2018 album Ye discussed his struggles with mental health, including the diagnosis, and its cover art contains the statement "I hate being Bi-Polar, it's awesome".{{cite web |last1=Basu |first1=Tanya |date=June 1, 2018 |title=Kanye West's Bipolar Disorder and the Shaky Science of the 'Tortured Genius' |url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/kanye-wests-bipolar-disorder-and-the-shaky-science-of-the-tortured-genius |access-date=December 18, 2019 |work=The Daily Beast}} In December 2018, West said that he stopped taking bipolar medication six months prior as he believed it was negatively impacting the quality of his musical output, declaring that he could not have made his albums My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy and Watch the Throne while medicated.{{Cite web |last=Mull |first=Amanda |date=2018-12-20 |title='6 Months Off Meds I Can Feel Me Again' |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2018/12/kanye-west-and-dangers-quitting-psychiatric-medication/578647/ |access-date=2023-12-01 |website=The Atlantic |language=en}}

In a 2022 interview with record executive Wack 100, West alleged that his previous diagnosis of having bipolar disorder was a misdiagnosis from a Jewish doctor, believing that he is "more autistic than bipolar."{{Cite web|url=https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/609376-ye-wack-100-diss-meek-mill-on-clubhouse-im-literally-in-tears|title=Ye & Wack 100 Diss Meek Mill On Clubhouse: "I'm Literally In Tears"|first=Hayley|last=Hynes|date=December 11, 2022|website=HotNewHipHop|access-date=December 12, 2022|archive-date=December 12, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221212005611/https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/609376-ye-wack-100-diss-meek-mill-on-clubhouse-im-literally-in-tears|url-status=live}} In a 2025 interview with Justin Laboy, West would state he had been formally diagnosed with autism at the suggestion of his wife.{{Cite web |last=France |first=Lisa Respers |date=2025-02-06 |title=Kanye West says he has been diagnosed with autism |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2025/02/06/entertainment/kanye-west-autism/index.html |access-date=2025-05-17 |website=CNN |language=en}}

=Books=

Although West has written several books, he has shown aversion to books and the act of reading.{{cite web |first=Mark |last=Egan |title=Proud non-reader Kanye West turns author |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-kanyewest-idUSTRE54P5L820090526 |publisher=Reuters |access-date=3 December 2022 |date=May 27, 2009 |archive-date=December 3, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221203080759/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-kanyewest-idUSTRE54P5L820090526 |url-status=live }} During a 2022 episode of Alo Yoga's "Alo Mind Full" podcast, West admitted that he had never read any book. He said, "Reading is like eating Brussels sprouts for me. And talking is like getting the Giorgio Baldi corn ravioli."{{cite web |author1=Scott Gleeson |title=Ye says he's never read 'any' book: 'Reading is like eating Brussels sprouts' |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/celebrities/2022/09/19/kanye-west-private-school-never-read-book/10424468002/ |publisher=USA Today |access-date=3 December 2022 |date=September 19, 2022 |archive-date=December 3, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221203080753/https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/celebrities/2022/09/19/kanye-west-private-school-never-read-book/10424468002/ |url-status=live }}

=Religious freedom=

West supports faith-based organizations and restoring school prayer in the United States.{{cite web |last1=Kornhaber |first1=Spencer |title=Kanye West, Political Pawn |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/culture/archive/2020/08/how-kanye-west-became-political-pawn/615256/ |publisher=The Atlantic |access-date=August 20, 2020 |language=en |date=August 14, 2020 |archive-date=November 23, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201123224432/https://www.theatlantic.com/culture/archive/2020/08/how-kanye-west-became-political-pawn/615256/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/16/us/politics/kanye-west-president-2020.html?smid=tw-nytimes&smtyp=cur|title=Kanye West's Perplexing Run as a Potential 2020 Spoiler|work=The New York Times|first1=Danny|last1=Hakim|first2=Maggie|last2=Haberman|date=September 16, 2020|access-date=December 8, 2022|archive-date=October 8, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221008174015/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/16/us/politics/kanye-west-president-2020.html?smid=tw-nytimes&smtyp=cur|url-status=live}}

=Prison reform=

In September 2018, West called for the alteration of the Thirteenth Amendment because of a loophole that suggests it is legal to enslave convicts.{{Cite magazine |last=Waxman |first=Olivia B. |date=October 1, 2018 |title=What Kanye West Got Right and Wrong About the 13th Amendment, According to Historians |url=https://time.com/5411662/kanye-west-13th-amendment-tweets-fact-check/ |url-status=live |magazine=Time |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190621220713/https://time.com/5411662/kanye-west-13th-amendment-tweets-fact-check/ |archive-date=June 21, 2019 |access-date=July 5, 2020}} During a meeting with Trump the following month, West called the Thirteenth Amendment a "trap door".{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.vox.com/2018/10/11/17964558/kanye-west-donald-trump-white-house-13th-amendment|title=Kanye's meeting with Trump turned into a rant on mental health and the 13th Amendment|first=Ella|last=Nilsen|date=October 11, 2018|magazine=Vox|access-date=July 5, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200609020401/https://www.vox.com/2018/10/11/17964558/kanye-west-donald-trump-white-house-13th-amendment|archive-date=June 9, 2020|url-status=live}}

In October 2019, West stated during a performance with the Sunday Service Choir that people were too busy discussing music and sports instead of focusing on a broken system that he claims imprisons "one in three African-Americans...in this country."{{Cite web|url=https://www.complex.com/music/2019/10/kanye-west-reiterates-republican-party-freed-slaves-sunday-service|title=Kanye West Reiterates That 'Republican Party Freed the Slaves; at Salt Lake City Sunday Service|date=October 5, 2019|access-date=July 5, 2020|website=Complex|first=Joshua|last=Espinoza|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191209143417/https://www.complex.com/music/2019/10/kanye-west-reiterates-republican-party-freed-slaves-sunday-service|archive-date=December 9, 2019|url-status=live}} The following month, West alleged that the media calls him "crazy" to silence his opinion, connecting this to the incarceration of African-Americans and celebrities.{{Cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/kanye-west-announces-2020-presidential-run-1301846|title=Kanye West Announces 2020 Presidential Run|website=The Hollywood Reporter|date=July 4, 2020|access-date=July 5, 2020|first=Sharareh|last=Drury|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200705060424/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/kanye-west-announces-2020-presidential-run-1301846|archive-date=July 5, 2020|url-status=live}}

On his album Jesus Is King (2019), West discussed the Thirteenth Amendment, mass incarceration, criticized the prison–industrial complex, and connected three-strikes laws to slavery.{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2019/oct/25/kanye-west-jesus-is-king-new-album|title=Chick-fil-A and Yeezy Boosts: what we learned from Kanye West's Jesus Is King|first=André|last=Wheeler|date=October 25, 2019|newspaper=The Guardian|access-date=July 5, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191030064726/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2019/oct/25/kanye-west-jesus-is-king-new-album|archive-date=October 30, 2019|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/thepitch/kanye-west-jesus-is-king-takeaways/|title=5 Takeaways from Kanye West's New Album, Jesus Is King|first=Sheldon|last=Pearce|website=Pitchfork|date=October 25, 2019|access-date=July 5, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200418065729/https://pitchfork.com/thepitch/kanye-west-jesus-is-king-takeaways/|archive-date=April 18, 2020|url-status=live}}{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/hip-hop/8540646/kanye-west-lyrics-jesus-is-king|title=Kanye West's Wildest Lyrics on His Gospel-Inspired 'Jesus Is King' Album|first=Michael|last=Saponara|magazine=Billboard|date=October 25, 2019|access-date=July 5, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200427124215/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/hip-hop/8540646/kanye-west-lyrics-jesus-is-king|archive-date=April 27, 2020|url-status=live}}

= Economics =

In May 2018, West espoused the "Democratic plantation" theory that welfare is a tool used by the Democratic Party to keep black Americans as an underclass that remains reliant on the party.{{Cite web |author=Jack Smith IV |date=May 5, 2018 |title=Kanye West's new pals don't want to free your mind — they want to destroy welfare |url=https://www.mic.com/articles/189209/kanye-wests-new-pals-dont-want-to-free-your-mind-they-want-to-destroy-welfare |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191114231504/https://www.mic.com/articles/189209/kanye-wests-new-pals-dont-want-to-free-your-mind-they-want-to-destroy-welfare |archive-date=November 14, 2019 |access-date=July 5, 2020 |website=Mic}} During a September 2018 special guest appearance on Saturday Night Live, after the show had already gone off the air, West alleged to the crowd that it was a Democratic Party plan "to take the fathers out [of] the home and promote welfare."{{Cite web |first=Martin|last=Pengelly |date=September 30, 2018 |title=Kanye West's pro-Trump remarks prompt boos in SNL studio |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2018/sep/30/kanye-west-pro-trump-remarks-boos-snl-studio-chris-rock |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200606121029/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2018/sep/30/kanye-west-pro-trump-remarks-boos-snl-studio-chris-rock |archive-date=June 6, 2020 |access-date=July 5, 2020 |website=The Guardian}}{{Cite news |first=Amy B|last=Wang |date=September 30, 2018 |title=Kanye West praised Trump in a meandering speech on SNL. It didn't air. |newspaper=Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/arts-and-entertainment/wp/2018/09/30/kanye-west-praised-trump-in-a-meandering-speech-on-snl-heres-what-didnt-air/ |url-status=live |access-date=July 5, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200305045020/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/arts-and-entertainment/wp/2018/09/30/kanye-west-praised-trump-in-a-meandering-speech-on-snl-heres-what-didnt-air/ |archive-date=March 5, 2020}}

The following month, West alleged that homicide was a byproduct of a "welfare state" that destroyed black families. Jelani Cobb challenged West's claim in The New Yorker (at least as much as it applied to Chicago), arguing that "the catalysts for violence in that city predate the 'welfare state' and the rise of single-parent black households, in the nineteen-seventies." He pointed to findings from Chicago Commission on Race Relations regarding the violence of the Chicago race riots of 1919 and a 1945 study entitled Black Metropolis, published by sociologists St. Clair Drake and Horace Cayton, which Cobb wrote, "detailed the ways in which discrimination in housing and employment were negatively affecting black migrants." He also noted similar observations made by W. E. B. Du Bois in Philadelphia, in 1903.{{Cite web |author=Jelani Cobb |date=October 13, 2018 |title=Kanye West, Donald Trump, and the Truth About Chicago |url=https://www.newyorker.com/news/daily-comment/kanye-west-donald-trump-and-the-truth-about-chicago |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191231185900/https://www.newyorker.com/news/daily-comment/kanye-west-donald-trump-and-the-truth-about-chicago |archive-date=December 31, 2019 |access-date=July 5, 2020 |website=New Yorker}}

=Other=

In September 2013, West was widely rebuked by human rights groups for performing in Kazakhstan for the wedding of authoritarian President Nursultan Nazarbayev's grandson.{{cite news|url=https://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/09/02/kanye-west-sings-at-kazakh-wedding|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131204085121/http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/09/02/kanye-west-sings-at-kazakh-wedding|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 4, 2013|title=Kanye West Sings at Kazakh Wedding|work=The New York Times|date=September 2, 2013|access-date=October 17, 2015|first=Andrew|last=Roth}} West was reportedly paid US$3 million for his performance.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2013/sep/02/kanye-west-gig-kazakhstan|title=Kanye West plays lucrative gig for controversial Kazakhstan president|date=September 2, 2013|access-date=October 14, 2015|work=The Guardian|first=Sean|last=Michaels|archive-date=June 20, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180620153211/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2013/sep/02/kanye-west-gig-kazakhstan|url-status=live}} West had previously participated in cultural boycotts, joining Shakira and Rage Against the Machine in refusing to perform in Arizona after the 2010 implementation of stop and search laws directed against potential illegal immigrants.{{cite news |last=O'Sullivan |first=Feargus |date=July 12, 2011 |title=The recent rise in cultural boycotts |work=The National |url=https://www.thenationalnews.com/arts-culture/music/the-recent-rise-in-musical-boycotts-1.423338/ |access-date=October 17, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230606102117/https://www.thenationalnews.com/arts-culture/music/the-recent-rise-in-musical-boycotts-1.423338/ |archive-date=June 6, 2023}}

In February 2016, West again became embroiled in controversy when he posted a tweet seemingly asserting Bill Cosby's innocence in the wake of over 50 women alleging he had sexually assaulted them.{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2016/02/10/entertainment/kanye-west-bill-cosby-innocent-tweet/index.html|title=Kanye West's 'Bill Cosby Innocent' tweet sparks outrage|first=Leinz|last=Vales|publisher=CNN|date=February 10, 2016|access-date=November 22, 2016|archive-date=November 26, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161126204730/http://www.cnn.com/2016/02/10/entertainment/kanye-west-bill-cosby-innocent-tweet/index.html/|url-status=live}}

West has made numerous statements against the COVID-19 vaccine.{{Cite web |last=Miller |first=Ryan W. |title=Anti-vaxxers, Kanye West denounce potential COVID-19 vaccine; here's the science |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2020/07/08/covid-19-vaccine-kanye-west-cautious-makes-false-claims/5397159002/ |access-date=2023-05-15 |website=USA TODAY |language=en-US |archive-date=May 15, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230515191044/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2020/07/08/covid-19-vaccine-kanye-west-cautious-makes-false-claims/5397159002/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Rose |first=Anna |date=2020-07-08 |title=Kanye West says he has had COVID-19, calls vaccines "the mark of the beast" |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/kanye-west-says-he-had-covid-19-speaks-against-vaccines-2703611 |access-date=2023-05-15 |website=NME |language=en-GB |archive-date=May 15, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230515191045/https://www.nme.com/news/music/kanye-west-says-he-had-covid-19-speaks-against-vaccines-2703611 |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |date=2022-10-10 |title=Twitter, Instagram block Kanye West over antisemitic posts |url=https://apnews.com/article/twitter-inc-entertainment-music-ba5c710ec59d195fe4d83cb2c9343589 |access-date=2023-11-02 |website=AP News |language=en}}

West has supported legalization of cannabis in the United States.{{Cite web |title=Kanye West wants marijuana to be free, and everyone who has a baby to get 'a million dollars' |url=https://theweek.com/speedreads/926430/kanye-west-wants-marijuana-free-everyone-who-baby-million-dollars |access-date=2023-06-07 |website=The Week |date=July 20, 2020 |language=en |archive-date=June 7, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230607035011/https://theweek.com/speedreads/926430/kanye-west-wants-marijuana-free-everyone-who-baby-million-dollars |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |title='Everybody that has a baby gets a million dollars,' Kanye West says at 1st campaign rally |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/kanye-west-kicks-off-1st-presidential-campaign-event/story?id=71869069 |access-date=2023-06-07 |website=ABC News |language=en |archive-date=July 19, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200719212607/https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/kanye-west-kicks-off-1st-presidential-campaign-event/story?id=71869069 |url-status=live }}

When asked about the Israeli–Palestinian conflict in February 2024, after the start of the Gaza war (2023–present), West said he was not educated enough to comment. The following September, before starting a Vultures 2 listening event, he displayed a photograph of a Palestinian olive tree. The photograph was taken during the First Intifada (1987–1993), and the gesture was interpreted as West expressing solidarity with Palestinians.{{cite web |last1=Moore |first1=Sam |title=Kanye West Shows Support For Palestine During 'Vultures' China Concert |url=https://hiphopdx.com/news/kanye-west-palestine-support-china-concert |website=HipHopDX |access-date=May 14, 2025 |date=September 30, 2024}} In May 2025, West tweeted "free Gaza" with a Palestinian flag emoji.{{cite web |title=Kanye West shares 'Free Gaza' post on social media |url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/2545623/kanye-west-shares-free-gaza-post-on-social-media |website=The Express Tribune |access-date=May 14, 2025 |date=May 13, 2025}}

Politics

In 2005, West appeared as a guest host during A Concert for Hurricane Relief, a benefit concert for the victims of Hurricane Katrina, alongside actor Mike Myers. West deviated from his script, criticizing the media's apparent disparity of the treatment of black victims as opposed to white victims of the devastating hurricane. He finished his speech by stating the now-infamous quote "George Bush doesn't care about black people", criticizing the United States' federal response to Katrina.{{Cite news |last=Moraes |first=Lisa |date=September 3, 2005 |title=Kanye West's Torrent of Criticism, Live on NBC |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/03/AR2005090300165.html |access-date=December 2, 2022 |archive-date=August 6, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080806153052/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/03/AR2005090300165.html |url-status=live }} He apologized for the comment in 2010, saying he "didn't have the grounds to call [Bush] a racist" and later stated in regard to the remark that he "was programmed to think from a victimized mentality".{{cite web |last=McAffee |first=Tierney |date=October 11, 2018 |title=Kanye West Explains Calling George W. Bush Racist in 2005: 'I Was Caught Up in a Victim Mentality' |url=https://people.com/politics/kanye-west-george-bush-racist-2005-victim-mentality/ |access-date=June 11, 2024 |website=People}}

Future president Barack Obama consulted with West during his 2008 presidential campaign, and West would perform at a Democratic National Committee party that August to support Obama's run for president, revealing on stage that he wished; "[his] momma could have seen this day".{{Cite web|last=Silverstein|first=Adam|date=2008-01-10|title=Barack 'B-Rock' Obama consults with Jay-Z and Kanye West|url=http://www.theguardian.com/music/2008/jan/10/urban|access-date=2022-12-04|website=the Guardian|language=en|archive-date=December 4, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221204035638/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2008/jan/10/urban|url-status=live}}{{Cite magazine|author=Billboard Staff|date=2008-08-28|title=Kanye West Salutes Obama At DNC Party|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/kanye-west-salutes-obama-at-dnc-party-1044331/|access-date=2022-12-04|magazine=Billboard|language=en-US|archive-date=December 4, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221204035638/https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/kanye-west-salutes-obama-at-dnc-party-1044331/|url-status=live}} West would later post a portrait of Obama on his blog after his election win, with a message reading "HI MOM, OBAMA WON!".{{Cite web|title=Celebs Moved By Obama's Win|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/celebs-moved-by-obamas-win/|access-date=December 4, 2022|work=CBS News|date=November 5, 2008|language=en-US|archive-date=December 8, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221208061105/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/celebs-moved-by-obamas-win/|url-status=live}} West performed alongside artists Fall Out Boy and Kid Rock at Obama's Youth Inaugural Ball in 2009, praising the newly inaugurated President Obama during his set.{{Cite web|title=Kanye West Felt 'So Good' To Perform For President Obama|url=https://www.mtv.com/news/tl5l7n/kanye-west-felt-so-good-to-perform-for-president-obama|access-date=December 4, 2022|website=MTV|first=James|last=Montgomery|date=January 21, 2009|language=en|archive-date=December 4, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221204042033/https://www.mtv.com/news/tl5l7n/kanye-west-felt-so-good-to-perform-for-president-obama|url-status=dead}}{{Cite web|date=January 21, 2009|title=A Night Out: Inaugural Youth Ball|work=Washingtonian|first=Matt|last=Carr|url=https://www.washingtonian.com/2009/01/21/a-night-out-inaugural-youth-ball/|access-date=December 5, 2022|language=en-US|archive-date=December 4, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221204040551/https://www.washingtonian.com/2009/01/21/a-night-out-inaugural-youth-ball/|url-status=live}}

In September 2012, West donated $1,000 to Barack Obama's re-election campaign, and in August 2015 he donated $2,700 to Hillary Clinton's 2016 campaign. He also donated $15,000 to the Democratic National Committee in October 2014.{{cite web|url=https://www.fec.gov/data/receipts/individual-contributions/?contributor_name=Kanye+West&two_year_transaction_period=2020&two_year_transaction_period=2018&two_year_transaction_period=2016&two_year_transaction_period=2014&two_year_transaction_period=2012&two_year_transaction_period=2010&two_year_transaction_period=2008&two_year_transaction_period=2006&two_year_transaction_period=2004&two_year_transaction_period=2002&two_year_transaction_period=2000&two_year_transaction_period=1998&two_year_transaction_period=1996&two_year_transaction_period=1994&two_year_transaction_period=1992&two_year_transaction_period=1990&two_year_transaction_period=1988&two_year_transaction_period=1986&min_date=01%2F01%2F1968&max_date=12%2F31%2F2020|title=Individual contributions|publisher=Federal Election Commission|access-date=August 29, 2020|archive-date=February 4, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210204093141/https://www.fec.gov/data/receipts/individual-contributions/?contributor_name=Kanye+West&two_year_transaction_period=2020&two_year_transaction_period=2018&two_year_transaction_period=2016&two_year_transaction_period=2014&two_year_transaction_period=2012&two_year_transaction_period=2010&two_year_transaction_period=2008&two_year_transaction_period=2006&two_year_transaction_period=2004&two_year_transaction_period=2002&two_year_transaction_period=2000&two_year_transaction_period=1998&two_year_transaction_period=1996&two_year_transaction_period=1994&two_year_transaction_period=1992&two_year_transaction_period=1990&two_year_transaction_period=1988&two_year_transaction_period=1986&min_date=01%2F01%2F1968&max_date=12%2F31%2F2020|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.distractify.com/p/kanye-west-political-donations|title=Here's a Complete List of Kanye West's Political Donations Over the Last Several Years|author=Rosenberg, Lizzy|date=June 5, 2020|access-date=August 29, 2020|archive-date=September 10, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200910112936/https://www.distractify.com/p/kanye-west-political-donations|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.thefader.com/2016/11/18/kanye-west-donated-to-hillary-clinton-democratic-party|title=Kanye West Donated Over $2,000 To Hillary Clinton's Campaign In 2015|publisher=The Fader|author=Dandridge-Lemco, Ben|date=November 18, 2016|access-date=August 29, 2020|archive-date=August 31, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200831234526/https://www.thefader.com/2016/11/18/kanye-west-donated-to-hillary-clinton-democratic-party|url-status=live}}

In September 2015, West announced that he intended to run for President of the United States in 2020.{{cite news|last1=Zaru|first1=Dee|title=Kanye West declares 2020 presidential bid at VMAs|url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/08/31/politics/kanye-west-2020-running-for-president-vma/|access-date=October 29, 2015|publisher=CNN|date=September 5, 2015|archive-date=April 25, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210425034004/https://www.cnn.com/2015/08/31/politics/kanye-west-2020-running-for-president-vma|url-status=live}}{{cite news|last1=Thompson|first1=Arienne|title=Guys, Kanye is serious about running for president in 2020|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/entertainthis/2015/09/24/guys-kanye-serious-running-president-2020/72732996/|access-date=October 29, 2015|work=USA Today|date=September 25, 2015|archive-date=October 31, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151031160455/http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/entertainthis/2015/09/24/guys-kanye-serious-running-president-2020/72732996/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://www.vibe.com/2016/11/kanye-west-2020-presidential-run/|title=Kanye West Talks Running For President in 2020|work=Vibe|first=Latifah|last=Muhammad|date=November 13, 2016|access-date=December 8, 2022|archive-date=November 30, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201130210350/https://www.vibe.com/2016/11/kanye-west-2020-presidential-run|url-status=live}} He later implied on Twitter that he intended to run for president in 2024 due to Donald Trump's win in the 2016 elections.{{cite news|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2016/12/13/kanye-west-reveals-why-he-met-with-trump-teases-2024.html|title=Kanye West reveals why he met with Trump, teases #2024|last1=Vielma|first1=Antonio José|date=December 13, 2016|publisher=CNBC|access-date=December 14, 2016|archive-date=December 14, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161214040907/http://www.cnbc.com/2016/12/13/kanye-west-reveals-why-he-met-with-trump-teases-2024.html|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/kanye-west-2024-trump-meeting-2016-12|title=Kanye West caps off tweetstorm about meeting with Trump with cryptic '2024' tweet|last1=Darcy|first1=Oliver|date=December 13, 2016|work=Business Insider|access-date=December 14, 2016|archive-date=December 14, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161214202148/http://www.businessinsider.com/kanye-west-2024-trump-meeting-2016-12|url-status=live}} West later confirmed this in an interview in September 2018,{{cite magazine |last1=Iasimone |first1=Ashley |title=Kanye West Reaffirms He Wants to Run for President: 'It 100 Percent Could Happen' |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/hip-hop/8473040/kanye-west-president-2024-interview |magazine=Billboard |date=September 1, 2018 |access-date=September 2, 2018 |archive-date=August 31, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180831011921/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/hip-hop/8473040/kanye-west-president-2024-interview |url-status=live }} saying that his main political concern is health care in the United States.{{cite news |last1=Embury-Dennis |first1=Tom |title=Kanye West announces plans for 2024 presidential run: 'It will be done, I'm not going to try' |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/kanye-west-president-2024-white-house-donald-trump-kim-kardashian-a8518051.html |access-date=September 2, 2018 |newspaper=The Independent |date=September 1, 2018 |archive-date=September 2, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180902014351/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/kanye-west-president-2024-white-house-donald-trump-kim-kardashian-a8518051.html |url-status=live }} On December 13, 2016, West met with President-elect Trump.{{cite news|last1=Lawler|first1=Kelly|title=Kanye West visits Trump Tower|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/people/2016/12/13/kanye-west-trump-tower-donald-trump/95368076/|access-date=December 13, 2016|work=USA Today|date=December 13, 2016|archive-date=December 13, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161213163023/http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/people/2016/12/13/kanye-west-trump-tower-donald-trump/95368076/|url-status=live}} According to West, "I wanted to meet with Trump today to discuss multicultural issues. These issues included bullying, supporting teachers, modernizing curriculums, and violence in Chicago. I feel it is important to have a direct line of communication with our future President if we truly want change."{{cite news|title=Kanye West Says He Discussed 'Multicultural Issues' With Trump|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/kanye-west-meets-donald-trump-york/story?id=44162912|access-date=December 14, 2016|work=ABC News|first=Arlette|last=Saenz|date=December 13, 2016|archive-date=December 14, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161214035957/http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/kanye-west-meets-donald-trump-york/story?id=44162912|url-status=live}}

West previously stated he would have voted for Trump had he voted.{{cite news|title=Kanye West: I didn't vote but if I did, 'I would have voted for Trump'|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2016/11/18/entertainment/kanye-west-donald-trump-trnd/|access-date=December 13, 2016|work=CNN|first1=Euan|last1=McKirdy|first2=M. David|last2=Allman|date=November 18, 2016|archive-date=December 20, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220173228/http://edition.cnn.com/2016/11/18/entertainment/kanye-west-donald-trump-trnd/|url-status=live}} In February 2017, however, West deleted all his tweets about Trump in purported dislike of the new president's policies, particularly the travel ban.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.slate.com/blogs/browbeat/2017/02/06/kanye_west_has_deleted_his_tweets_about_donald_trump.html|title=Kanye West Has Deleted His Pro-Trump Tweets|last=Canfield|first=David|magazine=Slate|date=February 6, 2017|access-date=February 7, 2017|archive-date=February 7, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170207002754/http://www.slate.com/blogs/browbeat/2017/02/06/kanye_west_has_deleted_his_tweets_about_donald_trump.html|url-status=live}} West reiterated his support for Donald Trump in April 2018 in a text to Ebro Darden where he said "I love Donald Trump{{nbsp}}... I love Donald Trump."{{cite web|url=http://www.complex.com/music/2018/04/ebro-darden-says-kanye-west-told-him-he-loves-donald-trump|title=Kanye West to Hot 97's Ebro: 'I Love Donald Trump'|website=Complex|language=en|access-date=April 23, 2018|archive-date=April 23, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180423222037/http://www.complex.com/music/2018/04/ebro-darden-says-kanye-west-told-him-he-loves-donald-trump|url-status=live}} West also posted a picture wearing a Make America Great Again hat alongside a series of tweets defending President Trump.{{Cite magazine |url=https://time.com/5254664/kanye-west-supports-donald-trump-twitter/ |title=Kanye West Calls President Trump 'My Brother' Then Tweets a Selfie in a MAGA Hat |last=Abramson |first=Alana |date=April 25, 2018 |magazine=Time |access-date=April 25, 2018 |archive-date=April 26, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180426092139/http://time.com/5254664/kanye-west-supports-donald-trump-twitter/ |url-status=live }} Trump later retweeted several of West's tweets.{{Cite news|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2018/04/25/politics/kanye-west-donald-trump-twitter/index.html|title=Kanye West on Trump: 'The mob can't make me not love him'|first=Deena|last=Zaru|publisher=CNN|date=April 25, 2018|access-date=January 4, 2023|archive-date=December 6, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221206235716/https://edition.cnn.com/2018/04/25/politics/kanye-west-donald-trump-twitter/index.html|url-status=live}}

Following his return to Twitter in April 2018, West tweeted "I love the way Candace Owens thinks."{{Cite news|url=http://www.thefader.com/2018/04/21/kanye-west-far-right-candace-owens|title=Kanye West tweets that he likes the way far-right personality Candace Owens "thinks"|work=The FADER|access-date=April 22, 2018|language=en|archive-date=April 22, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180422055658/http://www.thefader.com/2018/04/21/kanye-west-far-right-candace-owens|url-status=live}} The tweet was met with controversy among some of West's fans.{{Cite news|url=https://www.thewrap.com/kanye-west-black-lives-candace-owens/|title=Kanye West Applauds Black Lives Matter Critic; Many Fans Revolt: 'This Is So Disturbing'|date=April 21, 2018|work=The Wrap|first=Romsemary|last=Rossi|access-date=April 22, 2018|language=en-US|archive-date=April 22, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180422055634/https://www.thewrap.com/kanye-west-black-lives-candace-owens/|url-status=live}}

In May 2018, West said in an interview with radio host Charlamagne tha God that he had been asked by a friend "What makes George Bush any more racist than Trump?"{{cite news |last1=Yilek |first1=Caitlin |title=Kanye West on defending Trump over George W. Bush: 'Racism isn't the deal-breaker for me' |url=https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/kanye-west-on-defending-trump-over-george-w-bush-racism-isnt-the-deal-breaker-for-me |access-date=October 15, 2018 |work=The Washington Examiner |date=May 1, 2018 |archive-date=October 16, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181016032644/https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/kanye-west-on-defending-trump-over-george-w-bush-racism-isnt-the-deal-breaker-for-me |url-status=live }} This was possibly alluding to his previous controversial condemnation of Bush as not caring about black people.{{cite web|year=2007|access-date=April 24, 2008|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/p353484|title=Kanye West—Biography|last=Birchmeier|first=Jason|publisher=Allmusic. All Media Guide|archive-date=February 17, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110217223433/http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p353484|url-status=live}} West said "racism isn't the deal-breaker for me. If that was the case, I wouldn't live in America."

File:President Donald Trump and Kanye West 2018-10-11 (Cropped 2).jpg in the Oval Office in 2018]]In the same interview, West expressed admiration for Bernie Sanders and his policies, saying "the Ye version [of a presidential campaign] would be the Trump campaign with maybe the Bernie Sanders principles. That would be my mix and stuff."{{cite web |last1=Hooton |first1=Christoper |title=Kanye West pivots from Donald Trump to Bernie Sanders in two-hour Charlamagne interview |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/kanye-west-charlamagne-the-god-video-interview-trump-obama-latest-a8331856.html |website=Independent |date=May 3, 2018 |access-date=23 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180506160835/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/kanye-west-charlamagne-the-god-video-interview-trump-obama-latest-a8331856.html |archive-date=May 6, 2018 |url-status=live}} In a 2020 interview with Nick Cannon, West revealed he wanted to meet with Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders, but was denied by Sanders.{{cite web |last1=Saint-Vil |first1=Sweenie |title=Kanye West wants to meet with Joe Biden, says Bernie Sanders refused his offer |url=https://www.revolt.tv/article/2020-09-08/70765/kanye-west-wants-to-meet-with-joe-biden-says-bernie-sanders-refused-his-offer/ |website=Revolt |access-date=23 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220123213504/https://www.revolt.tv/article/2020-09-08/70765/kanye-west-wants-to-meet-with-joe-biden-says-bernie-sanders-refused-his-offer/ |archive-date=January 23, 2022 |url-status=live}}

On October 11, 2018, West visited the Oval Office for a meeting with President Trump to discuss a range of issues. He and several other musicians watched Trump sign the Music Modernization Act.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/kanye-west-trump-oval-office-white-house-meeting-736405/|title=Kanye West Just Delivered the Craziest Oval Office Performance of All Time|last=Bort|first=Ryan|date=October 11, 2018|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=October 11, 2018|archive-date=October 11, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181011213943/https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/kanye-west-trump-oval-office-white-house-meeting-736405/|url-status=live}} Later in October 2018, West and his wife visited the pro-Trump president of Uganda, Yoweri Museveni, who said they held "fruitful discussions" about promoting tourism and the arts.{{cite web|url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/kanye-west-kim-kardashian-meet-uganda-president-yoweri-museveni_n_5bc4a0dce4b0bd9ed55c54e5|title=Kanye West And Kim Kardashian Meet With Trump-loving President of Uganda|website=HuffPost|first=Cole|last=Delbyck|date=October 15, 2018|access-date=October 16, 2022|archive-date=October 16, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221016184654/https://www.huffpost.com/entry/kanye-west-kim-kardashian-meet-uganda-president-yoweri-museveni_n_5bc4a0dce4b0bd9ed55c54e5|url-status=live}}

In 2018, West expressed support for gun rights, saying "the problem is illegal guns. Illegal guns is the problem, not legal guns. We have the right to bear arms". West's remarks received support from the National Rifle Association of America (NRA).{{Cite web |date=2018-10-11 |title=NRA Supports Kanye West After Oval Office Visit |url=https://www.newsweek.com/kanye-west-nra-gun-laws-1165683 |access-date=2023-01-27 |website=Newsweek |first=Janice |last=Williams |language=en |archive-date=February 20, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200220214302/https://www.newsweek.com/kanye-west-nra-gun-laws-1165683 |url-status=live }}

The same month, West donated $73,540 to progressive Chicago mayoral candidate Amara Enyia. The donation was the exact amount Enyia needed to pay a fine she received for not filing a campaign finance reports during her abbreviated 2015 mayoral run.{{cite web|url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/music/celebrity/kanye-west-donates-dollar73k-to-progressive-chicago-mayoral-candidate-amara-enyia/ar-BBONUT9|title=Kanye West Donates $73K to Progressive Chicago Mayoral Candidate Amara Enyia|website=MSN|language=en-US|access-date=October 25, 2018|archive-date=October 25, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181025185939/https://www.msn.com/en-us/music/celebrity/kanye-west-donates-dollar73k-to-progressive-chicago-mayoral-candidate-amara-enyia/ar-BBONUT9|url-status=live}}

Also in the same month, West was reported to have given his support to the Blexit movement, a campaign by Owens to encourage black Americans to abandon the Democratic Party and register as Republicans.{{cite web |last=Miles |first=Frank |date=September 1, 2020 |publisher=Fox News |title=Kanye West registered as Republican in Park County, WY, potentially blocking run as independent in Arizona |url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/kanye-west-registered-as-republican-in-park-county-wy-potentially-blocking-run-as-independent-in-arizona |access-date=December 6, 2022 |archive-date=December 14, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211214004911/https://www.foxnews.com/politics/kanye-west-registered-as-republican-in-park-county-wy-potentially-blocking-run-as-independent-in-arizona |url-status=live }} Media reports suggested West had advised on the design of the campaign's logo, and branded merchandise, including T-shirts.{{cite web|url=https://www.newsweek.com/what-blexit-candace-owens-says-kanye-west-isnt-involved-1192342|title=What Is Blexit? Candace Owens Slams Media, Says Kanye West Isn't Involved|website=Newsweek|first=Dory|last=Jackson|date=October 29, 2018|access-date=April 25, 2023|archive-date=December 26, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221226051303/https://www.newsweek.com/what-blexit-candace-owens-says-kanye-west-isnt-involved-1192342|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/kanye-west-blexit-shirts-black-democrats-trump-maga-republican-leave-party-a8606201.html|title=Kanye West designs 'Blexit' shirts urging black Democrats to leave the party|newspaper=The Independent|first=Jack|last=Shepherd|date=October 29, 2018|access-date=October 3, 2018|archive-date=October 30, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181030040419/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/kanye-west-blexit-shirts-black-democrats-trump-maga-republican-leave-party-a8606201.html|url-status=live}} However, West denied being the designer and disavowed the effort, tweeting "My eyes are now wide open and now realize I've been used to spread messages I don't believe in. I am distancing myself from politics and completely focusing on being creative !!!"{{cite magazine|url=https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/kanye-west-denies-being-designer-of-blexit-shirts-urging-black-people-to-leave-the-democratic-party|title=Kanye West denies being designer of 'Blexit' shirts urging black people to leave the Democratic Party|date=October 30, 2018|magazine=Washington Examiner|access-date=December 6, 2022|archive-date=October 3, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231003165259/https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/kanye-west-i-never-wanted-any-association-with-blexit-ive-been-used|url-status=live}}

In 2019, West re-affirmed his support for Trump. That year, he expressed his opposition to abortion,{{cite web |last1=Graham |first1=Ruth |title=Evangelicals Are Extremely Excited About Kanye's Jesus Is King |url=https://slate.com/human-interest/2019/10/kanye-west-jesus-is-king-evangelical-biblical.html |work=Slate Magazine |access-date=October 29, 2019 |language=en |date=October 28, 2019 |archive-date=October 29, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191029162030/https://slate.com/human-interest/2019/10/kanye-west-jesus-is-king-evangelical-biblical.html |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last1=Nicole |first1=Laura |title=BREAKING: Kanye West rails against abortion in 'Jesus Is King' interview |url=https://www.liveaction.org/news/kanye-west-abortion-jesus-is-king/ |publisher=Live Action News |language=en |date=October 26, 2019 |access-date=December 6, 2022 |archive-date=December 6, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221206235719/https://www.liveaction.org/news/kanye-west-abortion-jesus-is-king/ |url-status=live }} and condemned those who wish to remove religion from the public square.{{cite web |last1=Schaffstall |first1=Katherine |title=Kanye West Unveils New 'Jesus Is King' Album; Talks "Cancel Culture" and "Christian Innovation" |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/kanye-west-jesus-is-king-album-cancel-culture-christianity-1250025 |work=The Hollywood Reporter |access-date=October 29, 2019 |language=en |date=October 25, 2010 |quote=He also took a stand for what he sees as the country taking religion out of everyday life, and attributes this to "woke" culture. "Who told you that my career would be over? The same people who are telling you that you can't have a right to say who you would vote for, those same people will be soon to take Jesus out of school. Those people will be soon to remove Jesus, period, from America, which is the Bible Belt," he said. |archive-date=October 29, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191029144642/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/kanye-west-jesus-is-king-album-cancel-culture-christianity-1250025 |url-status=live }} In an interview with GQ in January 2020, West implied he would be voting for President Trump.{{cite news |url=https://www.gq.com/story/inside-kanye-west-vision-for-the-future-cover-may-2020 |title=Inside Kanye West's Vision for the Future |work=GQ |access-date=April 15, 2020 |language=en |date=April 15, 2020 |quote=No, I'm definitely voting this time. And we know who I'm voting on. And I'm not going to be told by the people around me and the people that have their agenda that my career is going to be over. |archive-date=April 15, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200415223343/https://www.gq.com/story/inside-kanye-west-vision-for-the-future-cover-may-2020 |url-status=live }}{{cite news |url=https://www.newsweek.com/kanye-west-voting-donald-trump-2020-1498098 |title=Kanye West Tells GQ That He Plans on Voting For Trump in 2020 |first=James |last=Crowley |work=Newsweek |access-date=April 15, 2020 |language=en |date=April 15, 2020 |archive-date=April 15, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200415175807/https://www.newsweek.com/kanye-west-voting-donald-trump-2020-1498098 |url-status=live }} Months later, West launched his own run for president and said in a subsequent interview that he was "taking off the Trump hat" due to Trump hiding in a bunker during the George Floyd protests. In September 2020, West expressed his support for Armenia during the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.{{cite news|url=https://en.armradio.am/2020/09/29/kanye-west-praying-for-armenia/|title=Kanye West: Praying for Armenia|first=Siranush|last=Ghazanchyan|newspaper=Public Radio of Armenia|date=September 29, 2020|access-date=October 4, 2020|archive-date=October 7, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201007231610/https://en.armradio.am/2020/09/29/kanye-west-praying-for-armenia/|url-status=live}} Also in that month West met with the President of Haiti Jovenel Moïse and discussed land ownership in the country.{{Cite web |date=2020-09-25 |title=US Rapper Kanye West Makes Surprise Visit to Haiti |url=https://www.voanews.com/a/americas_us-rapper-kanye-west-makes-surprise-visit-haiti/6196390.html |access-date=2023-06-16 |website=VOA |language=en |archive-date=June 16, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230616165417/https://www.voanews.com/a/americas_us-rapper-kanye-west-makes-surprise-visit-haiti/6196390.html |url-status=live }}

In December 2022, West urged his followers on Instagram to vote for Republican candidate Herschel Walker in the U.S. Senate runoff election in Georgia.{{Cite web|url=https://www.jpost.com/us-elections/article-724227|title=In last hours of Georgia runoff, Kanye promotes GOP candidate|work=The Jerusalem Post|date=December 7, 2022|access-date=January 4, 2023|archive-date=January 4, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230104001441/https://www.jpost.com/us-elections/article-724227|url-status=live}}

At least five presidents have condemned West for his statements and actions. George W. Bush criticized West for "calling him a racist".{{Cite web |last=Carlson |first=Benjamin |date=2010-11-03 |title=Bush: Kanye Comment a 'Disgusting' Moment as President |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2010/11/bush-kanye-comment-a-disgusting-moment-as-president/339704/ |access-date=2023-06-16 |website=The Atlantic |language=en |archive-date=June 16, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230616165419/https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2010/11/bush-kanye-comment-a-disgusting-moment-as-president/339704/ |url-status=live }} Jimmy Carter and Barack Obama condemned his actions following the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards, with Obama calling him a "jackass" during an interview.{{Cite web |title=Kanye West's Behavior At VMAs 'Completely Uncalled For' Says Jimmy Carter |url=https://www.mtv.com/news/0o570y/kanye-wests-behavior-at-vmas-completely-uncalled-for-says-jimmy-carter |access-date=2023-06-16 |website=MTV |language=en |archive-date=June 16, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230616170920/https://www.mtv.com/news/0o570y/kanye-wests-behavior-at-vmas-completely-uncalled-for-says-jimmy-carter |url-status=dead }}{{Cite web |last=Yarow |first=Jay |title=President Obama Calls Kanye West A "Jackass" |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/presidents-opinion-of-kanye-west-sparks-debate-2009-9 |access-date=2023-06-16 |website=Business Insider |language=en-US |archive-date=June 16, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230616165417/https://www.businessinsider.com/presidents-opinion-of-kanye-west-sparks-debate-2009-9 |url-status=live }} Donald Trump and Joe Biden (indirectly through a tweet) criticized West in 2022 after he praised the Nazis.{{Cite magazine |last=Kreps |first=Daniel |date=2022-11-27 |title=Donald Trump Calls Kanye West a 'Seriously Troubled Man' After Mar-a-Lago Dinner |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/donald-trump-kanye-west-seriously-troubled-man-mar-a-lago-dinner-1234637095/ |access-date=2023-06-16 |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en-US |archive-date=June 16, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230616165417/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/donald-trump-kanye-west-seriously-troubled-man-mar-a-lago-dinner-1234637095/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Sharf |first=Zack |date=2022-12-02 |title=Joe Biden Says 'Hitler Was a Demonic Figure' After Kanye West's Antisemitic Meltdown: 'Silence Is Complicity' |url=https://variety.com/2022/tv/news/joe-biden-hitler-demon-kanye-west-antisemitism-1235448107/ |access-date=2023-06-16 |website=Variety |language=en-US |archive-date=March 15, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230315105801/https://variety.com/2022/tv/news/joe-biden-hitler-demon-kanye-west-antisemitism-1235448107/ |url-status=live }}

Race relations

In 2018, West criticized the Thirteenth Amendment, citing the provision allowing slavery as punishment for a crime. In May, West caused controversy when he said during an appearance on TMZ: "When you hear about slavery for 400 years{{nbsp}}... for 400 years? That sounds like a choice. You were there for 400 years and it's all of y'all. It's like we're mentally imprisoned."{{cite web |last1=Lee |first1=Benjamin |last2=Beaumont-Thomas |first2=Ben |date=May 2, 2018 |title=Kanye West on slavery: 'For 400 years? That sounds like a choice' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2018/may/01/kanye-west-on-slavery-for-400-years-that-sounds-like-a-choice |access-date=October 27, 2022 |website=The Guardian |archive-date=October 26, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221026104349/https://amp.theguardian.com/music/2018/may/01/kanye-west-on-slavery-for-400-years-that-sounds-like-a-choice |url-status=live }} West responded to the controversy on Twitter: "Of course I know that slaves did not get shackled and put on a boat by free will. My point is for us to have stayed in that position even though the numbers were on our side means that we were mentally enslaved" and "The reason why I brought up the 400 years point is that we can't be mentally imprisoned for another 400 years. We need free thought now. Even the statement was an example of free thought. It was just an idea. Once again I am being attacked for presenting new ideas."{{cite news |last=Kaur |first=Harmeet |date=May 2018 |title=Kanye West just said 400 years of slavery was a choice |publisher=CNN |url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/05/01/entertainment/kanye-west-slavery-choice-trnd/index.html |access-date=December 6, 2022 |archive-date=December 6, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221206051654/https://www.cnn.com/2018/05/01/entertainment/kanye-west-slavery-choice-trnd/index.html |url-status=live }} Later, on August 29, 2018, West offered up an emotional apology for his slavery comment during a radio interview with 107.5 WGCI Chicago.{{Cite news |title=Kanye West 'properly' apologizes for slavery comment, answers Kimmel question about Trump |work=USA Today |first=Cydney |last=Henderson |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/people/2018/08/29/kanye-west-apologizes-slavery-remark-answers-kimmel-question/1139792002 |access-date=August 30, 2018 |archive-date=August 30, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180830053312/https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/people/2018/08/29/kanye-west-apologizes-slavery-remark-answers-kimmel-question/1139792002/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |last=Merrett |first=Robyn |date=August 29, 2018 |title=Kanye West Apologizes for Saying 'Slavery Was a Choice' in Tearful Interview |work=People |url=https://people.com/music/kanye-west-apologizes-slavery-comment-cries-over-bipolar-disorder |access-date=August 30, 2018 |archive-date=August 30, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180830030724/https://people.com/music/kanye-west-apologizes-slavery-comment-cries-over-bipolar-disorder/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title=Kanye West Fights Back Tears While Apologizing for Slavery Comments |url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/music/celebrity/kanye-west-fights-back-tears-while-apologizing-for-slavery-comments/ar-BBMCGj1 |access-date=August 30, 2018 |website=MSN |archive-date=August 30, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180830074115/https://www.msn.com/en-us/music/celebrity/kanye-west-fights-back-tears-while-apologizing-for-slavery-comments/ar-BBMCGj1 |url-status=live }}

In November 2016, West told black people to "stop focusing on racism", but clarified that his support for Trump did not mean he did not "believe in Black Lives Matter."{{Cite web |last=Tesema |first=Martha |date=November 18, 2016 |title=Kanye West basically outlined his 2020 presidential platform last night |url=https://mashable.com/2016/11/18/kanye-west-presidential-platform/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200623142442/https://mashable.com/2016/11/18/kanye-west-presidential-platform/ |archive-date=June 23, 2020 |website=Mashable |language=en}} In June 2020, West participated in the George Floyd protests and donated $2{{nbsp}}million to help victims of the rioting that took place during demonstrations. He also paid off Floyd's daughter's college tuition.{{Cite web |date=June 5, 2020 |title=After Caping For Trump, Kanye West Joins Black Lives Matter Protest In Chicago |url=https://www.bet.com/article/ewtd6s/kanye-west-marched-in-black-lives-matter-protest |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200628080234/https://www.bet.com/music/2020/06/05/kanye-west-protest-chicago.html |archive-date=June 28, 2020 |access-date=July 5, 2020 |publisher=BET}}{{cite news |last=Melas |first=Chloe |date=June 4, 2020 |title=Kanye West donates $2 million, pays college tuition for George Floyd's daughter |website=CNN |url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/04/entertainment/kanye-west-two-million-dollar-donation/index.html |url-status=live |access-date=July 5, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200605193317/https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/04/entertainment/kanye-west-two-million-dollar-donation/index.html |archive-date=June 5, 2020}} The following month, West stated that one of his priorities would be to end police brutality, adding that "[the] police are people too".

On October 3, 2022, during his Yeezy SZN 9 fashion show in Paris, West wore a shirt with the script "WHITE LIVES MATTER",{{cite web |last=Dellatto |first=Marisa |date=3 October 2022 |title=Kanye West Wears 'White Lives Matter' Shirt At Yeezy Fashion Show |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/marisadellatto/2022/10/03/kanye-west-wears-white-lives-matter-shirt-at-yeezy-fashion-show |access-date=2022-10-03 |website=Forbes |archive-date=December 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221205100437/https://www.forbes.com/sites/marisadellatto/2022/10/03/kanye-west-wears-white-lives-matter-shirt-at-yeezy-fashion-show/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last=Polus |first=Sarah |date=3 October 2022 |title=Ye, Candace Owens wear 'White Lives Matter' shirts at Paris Fashion week |url=https://thehill.com/blogs/in-the-know/3672606-ye-candace-owens-wear-white-lives-matter-shirts-at-paris-fashion-week |access-date=2022-10-03 |website=The Hill |archive-date=December 10, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221210142019/https://thehill.com/blogs/in-the-know/3672606-ye-candace-owens-wear-white-lives-matter-shirts-at-paris-fashion-week/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last=Cowen |first=William Trace |date=3 October 2022 |title=Kanye West Wears 'White Lives Matter' T-Shirt Design at YZY Season 9 Presentation |url=https://www.complex.com/style/kanye-west-white-lives-matter-t-shirt-yzy-season-9 |access-date=2022-10-03 |website=Complex Networks |archive-date=October 3, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221003175145/https://www.complex.com/style/kanye-west-white-lives-matter-t-shirt-yzy-season-9 |url-status=live }} a move described by Forbes as controversial. According to the Anti-Defamation League, the phrase is a white supremacist slogan that was created in response to Black Lives Matter protests against police brutality.{{Cite news |title=White Lives Matter |publisher=Anti-Defamation League |url=https://www.adl.org/resources/hate-symbol/white-lives-matter |access-date=October 6, 2022 |archive-date=October 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221005234013/https://www.adl.org/resources/hate-symbol/white-lives-matter |url-status=live }} Conservative commentator Candace Owens posed for a photo with West, while wearing a matching shirt with the slogan. Following the event, West posted a story on his Instagram, stating: "Everyone know that Black Lives Matter was a scam now it's over you're welcome."{{cite web |last=O'Kane |first=Caitlin |title=Kanye West faces backlash for wearing shirt with "White Lives Matter" slogan |date=October 4, 2022 |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/kanye-west-white-lives-matter-shirt-candace-owens-fashion-show-backlash |access-date=6 October 2022 |publisher=CBS News |archive-date=December 7, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221207014802/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/kanye-west-white-lives-matter-shirt-candace-owens-fashion-show-backlash/ |url-status=live }}

Antisemitism

=Before 2022=

In October 2022, CNN reported, based on anonymous sources, that West had a "disturbing history of admiring" Nazi Germany and Adolf Hitler. Though West said in a September 2022 podcast he had not read any book,{{cite magazine|last=Rowley|first=Glenn|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/kanye-west-hasnt-read-any-book-1235140665/|title=Kanye West Admits He Hasn't 'Read Any Book': 'Reading Is Like Eating Brussels Sprouts for Me'|magazine=Billboard|date=September 16, 2022|accessdate=April 3, 2025}} CNN reported he had read Hitler's manifesto Mein Kampf (1925).{{Cite web|date=2022-10-27|title=Exclusive: Kanye West has a disturbing history of admiring Hitler, sources tell CNN|url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/10/27/entertainment/kanye-west-hitler-album/index.html|access-date=2022-10-27|publisher=CNN|first=Chloe|last=Melas|language=en-US|archive-date=December 6, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221206110749/https://www.cnn.com/2022/10/27/entertainment/kanye-west-hitler-album/index.html|url-status=live}} Rolling Stone reported that West's admiration of the Nazis and Hitler had been an open secret within the music industry for around two decades, and TheWrap found that West had made public statements employing antisemitic tropes since at least 2005. He has had a lengthy friendship with the Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan, who has been described as an antisemite by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) and the Southern Poverty Law Center.{{cite web |last1=Gazzar |first1=Brenda |title=Kanye 'Ye' West Has Spouted Antisemitic Lyrics, Nazi Comments Since 2005 |url=https://www.thewrap.com/kanye-ye-west-spouted-antisemitic-lyrics-comments/ |website=TheWrap |access-date=March 30, 2025 |date=November 14, 2022}}

According to Rolling Stone{{'s}} sources, West had repeatedly brought up the Nazis and Hitler as far back as 2003, during the production of The College Dropout (2004). The sources described West as drawing inspiration from Nazi propaganda for his marketing tactics and becoming confrontational if he did not feel his views were validated.{{cite magazine |last1=Roundtree |first1=Cheyenne |title=Kanye West's Love of Hitler Allegedly Goes Back 20 Years |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/kanye-wests-love-of-hitler-and-nazis-allegedly-goes-back-20-years-1234647700/ |magazine=Rolling Stone |access-date=March 30, 2025 |date=December 14, 2022}} During a freestyle event in 2005, West rapped: "I'm tight with my dough like my family Jews, Uh! I said 'Jews' my career is screwed." In the Graduation (2007) song "Flashing Lights", West raps about hating paparazzi more than Nazis, which California State University, San Bernardino's Brian Levin said trivializes Nazi atrocities.

During the Big Chill music festival on August 6, 2011, West was booed after comparing himself to Hitler during an onstage rant: "There is so much bullshit going on in the music industry right now. Someone needs to make a difference. People treat me like Hitler."{{cite web |title=Kanye West's onstage rant at The Big Chill festival |url=https://www.ellecanada.com/culture/music/kanye-west-s-onstage-rant-at-the-big-chill-festival |website=Elle |access-date=March 30, 2025 |date=August 8, 2011}} The Jerusalem Post wrote that this was West's first remark that "raised eyebrows among Jews". During a November 26, 2013 interview on The Breakfast Club, West explained why he believed that Barack Obama had problems pushing policies in Washington: "Black people don't have the same level of connections as Jewish people{{nbsp}}... We ain't Jewish. We don't get family that got money like that."{{Cite web |last=Jr (@JusAire) |first=Keith Nelson |date=2013-12-03 |title=Kanye West's The Breakfast Club Interview Offends Jewish Community |url=https://allhiphop.com/headlines/kanye-wests-the-breakfast-club-interview-offends-jewish-community/ |access-date=2023-01-22 |website=AllHipHop |language=en-US |archive-date=January 22, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230122035759/https://allhiphop.com/headlines/kanye-wests-the-breakfast-club-interview-offends-jewish-community/ |url-status=live }} The ADL condemned West's remark as "the age-old canard that Jews are all-powerful and control the levers of power in government". On December 21, 2013, West retracted the statement, telling a Chicago radio station that "I thought I was giving a compliment, but if anything, it came off more ignorant. I don't know how being told you have money is an insult."{{cite news|date=December 22, 2013|title=Kanye West wants to take back 'ignorant compliment' about Jews|url=http://www.jpost.com/Arts-and-Culture/Arts/Kanye-West-wants-to-takes-back-ignorant-compliment-about-Jews-335795|newspaper=The Jerusalem Post|access-date=January 16, 2014|archive-date=January 15, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140115200755/http://www.jpost.com/Arts-and-Culture/Arts/Kanye-West-wants-to-takes-back-ignorant-compliment-about-Jews-335795|url-status=live}}

Rolling Stone reported that during a late 2015 business call, West described Hitler as a "marketing genius" who "really understood how to mobilize people in a way that no one ever has." An early version of the Life of Pablo (2016) song "Famous" that was leaked online contains cut antisemitic lyrics: "The world turnin' Black slowly, where you can call niggas 'niggas', but you better not mention Hitler, so tell me who run the label, where the guns from?" According to CNN, West wanted to title his 2018 album, released as Ye, Hitler. The conceptual artist Ryder Ripps, who worked with West between 2014 and 2018, recalled West praising the Nazis and discussing antisemitic conspiracy theories in late 2018 meetings. Ripps, a Jew, said he argued with West over the comments but did not regard them as dangerous at the time.{{cite web |last1=Goggin |first1=Ben |title=Ye paid a settlement to former employee who alleged he praised Hitler and Nazis during meetings, documents show |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/kanye-west-ye-settlement-anti-semitic-jewish-hitler-nazis-allegations-rcna54485 |website=NBC News |access-date=April 1, 2025 |date=November 2, 2022}}

Van Lathan Jr., who conducted the 2018 TMZ interview in which West said slavery "sounds like a choice", said that West also made comments expressing love for Hitler and Nazis which were edited out before publication. In a 2019 interview with David Letterman, West said that liberals treated Trump supporters like Nazis and insinuated that Jews were behind the #MeToo movement; both comments were edited out of the released interview.{{cite web |last1=Gazzar |first1=Brenda |title=David Letterman Netflix Show Cut Out Kanye 'Ye' West Comments on 'Nazis' and Rihanna Payback (Exclusive) |url=https://www.thewrap.com/david-letterman-show-sanitized-kanye-west-ye-nazi-comments/ |website=TheWrap |access-date=March 30, 2025 |date=November 5, 2022}} NBC News reported in November 2022 that West had paid a settlement to an employee who accused him of antisemitism and praising the Nazis. West denied the accusations in the settlement.

=2022–2024=

{{Tweet

| name = ye

| image =

| username = kanyewest

| date = Oct 8, 2022

| text = I'm a bit sleepy tonight but when I wake up I'm going death con 3 {{spaces|4}} On JEWISH PEOPLE {{spaces|3}} The funny thing is I actually can't be Anti Semitic because black people are actually Jew also {{spaces|2}} You guys have toyed with me and tried to black ball anyone whoever opposes your agenda

| ID = 1578957396604424193

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20221009040131/https://twitter.com/kanyewest/status/1578957396604424193

| archive-date = 2022-10-09

}}

On October 7, 2022, West appeared to suggest in a post on Instagram that Sean Combs is controlled by Jews;{{cite web |last=Merlan |first=Anna |date=2022-10-11 |title=Watch the Disturbing Kanye Interview Clips That Tucker Carlson Didn't Put on Air |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/kanye-west-tucker-carlson-leaked-footage-antisemitism-fake-children/ |access-date=2022-10-12 |website=Motherboard |language=en |archive-date=December 6, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221206062529/https://www.vice.com/en/article/3ad77y/kanye-west-tucker-carlson-leaked-footage-antisemitism-fake-children |url-status=live }} in response, Instagram locked his account.{{Cite news |date=October 10, 2022 |title=Kanye West's Twitter and Instagram accounts locked over anti-Semitism |language=en-GB |website=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-63198991 |access-date=2022-10-18 |archive-date=December 4, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221204112431/https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-63198991 |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last=Graziosi |first=Graig |date=2022-10-12 |title=Podcaster claims Kanye West said he 'loved Hitler and Nazis' in edited TMZ interview |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/van-lathan-kanye-west-tmz-hitler-b2201607.html |access-date=2022-10-14 |website=The Independent |language=en |archive-date=October 24, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221024020129/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/van-lathan-kanye-west-tmz-hitler-b2201607.html |url-status=live }} After being unable to post on Instagram, and previously not tweeting for nearly two years, on October 8, West tweeted that he was "going death con 3" {{Sic|}} on Jewish people, prompting media attention.{{cite web |last=Murphy |first=J. Kim |date=October 8, 2022 |title=Instagram Restricts Kanye West's Account Following Backlash Over Alleged Antisemitic Post, West Responds With Disturbing Tweets |url=https://variety.com/2022/digital/news/kanye-west-instagram-restricted-account-1235397055 |access-date=October 9, 2022 |website=Variety |archive-date=October 8, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221008203346/https://variety.com/2022/digital/news/kanye-west-instagram-restricted-account-1235397055/ |url-status=live }} The tweet was widely condemned as antisemitic, and West's Twitter account was temporarily locked.{{cite news|url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/10/09/entertainment/kanye-west-twitter-account-locked|title=Kanye West's Twitter account locked for antisemitic tweet|website=CNN|first1=Jamiel|last1=Lynch|first2=David|last2=Williams|date=October 10, 2022|access-date=December 6, 2022|archive-date=December 3, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221203175740/https://www.cnn.com/2022/10/09/entertainment/kanye-west-twitter-account-locked|url-status=live}} Prior to sending out the controversial tweet, he had posted an image of himself with Mark Zuckerberg on his Twitter, criticizing Zuckerberg for "kick[ing] him off Instagram".{{cite web |last=Roth |first=Emma |date=October 9, 2022 |title=Twitter locks Kanye West out of his account following anti-Semitic post |url=https://www.theverge.com/2022/10/9/23395490/twitter-lock-kanye-west-out-account-following-anti-semitic-post |access-date=October 9, 2022 |work=The Verge |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221009202701/https://www.theverge.com/2022/10/9/23395490/twitter-lock-kanye-west-out-account-following-anti-semitic-post |url-status=live }}

On October 11, Vice reported on unaired segments of an interview of West by Fox News's Tucker Carlson that aired a few days prior, which contained West making several conspiratorial, racist, and antisemitic statements. West said that Margaret Sanger was a "known eugenic[ist]" and founded Planned Parenthood with the Ku Klux Klan (KKK) "to control the Jew population." He added that "When I say Jew, I mean the 12 lost tribes of Judah, the blood of Christ, who the people known as the race Black really are" and that "This is who our people are. The blood of Christ. This, as a Christian, is my belief." West also disapproved of his children going to a school that celebrates Kwanzaa, saying "I prefer my kids knew Hanukkah than Kwanzaa. At least it will come with some financial engineering."{{cite web |last=Vargas |first=Ramon Antonio |date=2022-10-11 |title=Unaired Kanye West-Tucker Carlson material contains more racist conspiracy theories |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2022/oct/11/kanye-west-tucker-carlson-interview-racism-conspiracy |access-date=2022-10-12 |website=The Guardian |language=en |archive-date=December 12, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221212081537/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2022/oct/11/kanye-west-tucker-carlson-interview-racism-conspiracy |url-status=live }} Fox News redacted these segments in their original broadcast.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/10/11/kanye-west-tucker-carlson-fox-news/|title=The Kanye West Tucker Carlson didn't want his audience to see|newspaper=The Washington Post|first=Philip|last=Bump|date=2022-10-11|access-date=2022-10-19|archive-date=November 9, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221109233749/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/10/11/kanye-west-tucker-carlson-fox-news/|url-status=live}}

That month, an episode of LeBron James's show, The Shop: Uninterrupted, featuring West was not released, as West had allegedly made antisemitic comments while recording the episode. On an October 17 episode of the podcast Drink Champs, recorded the day prior, West claimed that he was being targeted by "the Jewish media" and "Zionist Jews" and said, "You really influenced me to get on this anti-Semite vibe and, you know, I'm here to finish the job. I'm here to not back down. They should've never let you niggas get money."{{Cite magazine |last=Legaspi |first=Althea |date=2022-10-16 |title=UnairedKanye West Blames 'Jewish Zionists' for Paparazzi, Pulled Shows … and Kardashian Sex Rumors |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/kanye-west-drink-champs-zionists-pete-davidson-kardashians-1234612003/ |access-date=2022-10-17 |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en |archive-date=December 9, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221209014546/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/kanye-west-drink-champs-zionists-pete-davidson-kardashians-1234612003/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last=Drink Champs |title=[ FULL INTERVIEW ] Ye on The Media, The Kardashians, Diddy, His Children, Gap, Drake & More Part 3 {{!}} Drink Champs |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ZmbP5vIbyk&feature=youtu.be |access-date=2022-10-18 |via=YouTube |archive-date=November 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221105183247/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ZmbP5vIbyk&feature=youtu.be |url-status=live }} In the same interview, West reiterated his claim that black people are the Lost Tribes of Israel.{{Cite web |last=Romano |first=Aja |date=2022-10-12 |title=Kanye West's antisemitic spiral, explained |url=https://www.vox.com/culture/23400851/kanye-west-antisemitism-hitler-praise |access-date=2022-12-02 |website=Vox |archive-date=December 2, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221202075657/https://www.vox.com/culture/23400851/kanye-west-antisemitism-hitler-praise |url-status=live }} The same day, West alleged in a televised interview with NewsNation's Chris Cuomo that he was being targeted by a "Jewish Underground Media Mafia", which also led to a confrontation with Cuomo.{{cite news|url=https://www.newsnationnow.com/cuomo-show/ye-i-dont-believe-in-the-term-antisemitic/|title=Cuomo, Ye discuss star's antisemitic remarks: Full interview|first1=Chris|last1=Cuomo|first2=Liz|last2=Jassin|publisher=NewsNation|date=October 17, 2022|access-date=November 5, 2022|archive-date=November 6, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221106012611/https://www.newsnationnow.com/cuomo-show/ye-i-dont-believe-in-the-term-antisemitic/|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/chris-cuomo-confronts-kanye-west-over-his-health-and-antisemitic-comments-on-newsnation|title=Chris Cuomo Confronts Kanye West Amid 'Jewish Underground Media Mafia' Rant|first=Matt|last=Young|publisher=Daily Beast|date=October 18, 2022|access-date=November 5, 2022|archive-date=November 3, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221103012313/https://www.thedailybeast.com/chris-cuomo-confronts-kanye-west-over-his-health-and-antisemitic-comments-on-newsnation|url-status=live}}

A few days after these comments, on October 22, the neo-Nazi Goyim Defense League protested in Los Angeles, hanging a banner that read "Kanye is right about the Jews" above a highway overpass while giving Nazi salutes.{{Cite web |last=Rector |first=Kevin |date=2022-10-23 |title=More antisemitic hate seen in L.A. after Kanye West's hateful rants |url=https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2022-10-23/kanye-is-right-about-the-jews-more-antisemitic-hate-seen-in-l-a-after-rappers-remarks |access-date=2022-10-25 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US |archive-date=December 6, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221206125159/https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2022-10-23/kanye-is-right-about-the-jews-more-antisemitic-hate-seen-in-l-a-after-rappers-remarks |url-status=live }} The demonstration was widely condemned by Jewish advocacy groups and politicians, some of whom urged West's sponsor, Adidas, to cut ties with him. Jeffrey Abrams of the Anti-Defamation League was quoted as expressing that "[t]hese hate groups are now leveraging the anti-Semitic tropes that Kanye West has been peddling on social media [and] on interviews".{{Cite web |date=2022-10-24 |title='Kanye is right' banner hung over 405 Freeway in LA adds to rising antisemitism fears |url=https://www.foxla.com/news/kanye-west-banner-405-freeway-los-angeles-antisemitism-fears |access-date=2022-10-25 |publisher=KTTV |language=en-US |archive-date=December 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221201094409/https://www.foxla.com/news/kanye-west-banner-405-freeway-los-angeles-antisemitism-fears |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |date=2022-10-25 |title=Chorus of outrage against Kanye West grows as antisemitic incidents rattle LA |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/oct/24/los-angeles-leaders-condemn-kanye-wests-antisemitic-comments |access-date=2022-11-02 |website=The Guardian |first=Dani |last=Anguiano |language=en |archive-date=December 6, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221206040809/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/oct/24/los-angeles-leaders-condemn-kanye-wests-antisemitic-comments |url-status=live }}

In response to his antisemitic statements, Vogue,{{cite web |url=https://www.complex.com/style/anna-wintour-vogue-drop-kanye-west-amid-recent-antisemitic-comments |title=Anna Wintour of 'Vogue' Reportedly Cuts Ties With Kanye Following Anti-Semitic Comments |website=Complex |first=Brad |last=Callas |date=October 22, 2022 |access-date=October 25, 2022 |archive-date=October 24, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221024213742/https://www.complex.com/style/anna-wintour-vogue-drop-kanye-west-amid-recent-antisemitic-comments |url-status=live }} Universal Music Group,{{cite web |title=UMG Confirms Termination of Kanye West Relationship – Gap Removes Yeezy Products From Stores |url=https://www.digitalmusicnews.com/2022/10/25/umg-gap-remove-yeezy-products-from-stores/ |access-date=October 25, 2022 |publisher=Digital Music News|first=Ashley|last=King|date=October 25, 2022 }} CAA,{{cite web |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/kanye-west-caa-talent-agency-drops-ye-antisemitism/ |title=Talent agency CAA drops Ye after antisemitic posts |publisher=CBS News |first=Megan |last=Cerullo |date=October 24, 2022 |access-date=October 25, 2022 |archive-date=October 24, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221024220101/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/kanye-west-caa-talent-agency-drops-ye-antisemitism/ |url-status=live }} Balenciaga, Gap, and Adidas terminated their collaborations, sponsorships, and relationships with West.{{cite web |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2022/10/25/adidas-terminates-partnership-with-ye-following-rappers-antisemitic-remarks.html |title=Adidas terminates Ye partnership, Gap removes Yeezy items over rapper's antisemitic remarks |publisher=CNBC |first=Jessica |last=Golden |date=October 25, 2022 |access-date=October 25, 2022 |archive-date=January 11, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230111163335/https://www.cnbc.com/2022/10/25/adidas-terminates-partnership-with-ye-following-rappers-antisemitic-remarks.html |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=https://www.reuters.com/business/retail-consumer/gap-remove-yeezy-gap-products-stores-2022-10-25/ |title=Gap to remove Yeezy Gap products from stores |publisher=Reuters |date=October 25, 2022 |access-date=October 25, 2022 |archive-date=October 25, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221025194351/https://www.reuters.com/business/retail-consumer/gap-remove-yeezy-gap-products-stores-2022-10-25/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web|title=Adidas cuts ties with Ye over antisemitic remarks that caused an uproar|url=https://www.npr.org/2022/10/25/1131285970/adidas-ye-kanye-west-antisemitic|date=October 25, 2022|access-date=October 25, 2022|publisher=NPR|first=Bobby|last=Allyn|archive-date=October 25, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221025111943/https://www.npr.org/2022/10/25/1131285970/adidas-ye-kanye-west-antisemitic|url-status=live}} Foot Locker and TJ Maxx removed West's products from their shelves.{{Cite magazine |last=Dailey |first=Hannah |date=2022-10-26 |title=Foot Locker Cuts Ties With Kanye West Following His Antisemitic Comments |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/kanye-west-yeezy-dropped-by-foot-locker-after-hate-speech-1235161363/ |access-date=2022-10-28 |magazine=Billboard |language=en-US |archive-date=December 8, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221208025043/https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/kanye-west-yeezy-dropped-by-foot-locker-after-hate-speech-1235161363/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite magazine |last=Dailey |first=Hannah |date=2022-10-26 |title=Kanye West Products Dropped by TJ Maxx After His Antisemitic Comments |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/kanye-west-products-dropped-tj-maxx-after-his-antisemitic-comments-1235161594/ |access-date=2022-10-28 |magazine=Billboard |language=en-US |archive-date=December 9, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221209132336/https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/kanye-west-products-dropped-tj-maxx-after-his-antisemitic-comments-1235161594/ |url-status=live }} With the termination of his business relationships, West lost his billionaire status; Forbes estimated his reduced worth at $400 million, coming from his "real estate, cash, his music catalog, and a 5% stake in ex-wife Kim Kardashian's shapewear firm, Skims".{{cite web |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/lisettevoytko/2022/10/25/billionaire-no-more-kanye-wests-anti-semitism-obliterates-his-net-worth-as-adidas-cuts-ties/?sh=1c1ef5f517e7 |title=Billionaire No More: Kanye West's Anti-Semitism Obliterates His Net Worth As Adidas Cuts Ties |website=Forbes |first=Lisette |last=Voytko |date=October 25, 2022 |access-date=October 25, 2022 |archive-date=October 25, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221025194351/https://www.forbes.com/sites/lisettevoytko/2022/10/25/billionaire-no-more-kanye-wests-anti-semitism-obliterates-his-net-worth-as-adidas-cuts-ties/?sh=1c1ef5f517e7 |url-status=live }} On October 26, 2022, West was escorted out of Skechers headquarters in Manhattan Beach, California after he arrived unannounced and uninvited; Skechers said it was "not considering and has no intention of working with West".{{Cite web |date=2022-10-26 |title=Kanye West Shows Up At Skechers Headquarters After Being Dumped By Adidas |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/kanye-west-skechers-visit-unnannounced_n_6359ab22e4b04dfacf7bf423 |access-date=2022-10-27 |website=HuffPost |first=David |last=Moye |language=en |archive-date=December 9, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221209132143/https://www.huffpost.com/entry/kanye-west-skechers-visit-unnannounced_n_6359ab22e4b04dfacf7bf423 |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |date=2022-10-27 |title=Kanye West escorted out of Skechers office after showing up unannounced |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2022/oct/26/kanye-west-escorted-out-skechers |access-date=2022-10-27 |website=The Guardian |archive-date=December 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221205073210/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2022/oct/26/kanye-west-escorted-out-skechers |url-status=live }}

Later in December 2022, while speaking to X17, West stated that he does not suffer from bipolar disorder, and that this was a misdiagnosis from a Jewish doctor. He also responded to the claim that he is having a psychotic episode, stating that he is not having one; he also said he "may be slightly autistic, like Rain Man".{{Cite web |title=Kanye West thinks he's 'slightly autistic': 'That's part of my superpower' |url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1019694-kanye-west-thinks-hes-slightly-autistic-thats-part-of-my-superpower |access-date=2022-12-15 |website=www.thenews.com.pk |archive-date=December 15, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221215131910/https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1019694-kanye-west-thinks-hes-slightly-autistic-thats-part-of-my-superpower |url-status=live }}

== Donald Trump–Nick Fuentes meeting ==

{{further information|Nick Fuentes#Dinner with Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago}}

In late November 2022, West was invited by Donald Trump to dine with him at Mar-a-Lago. West arrived at the dinner with three other guests, including Nick Fuentes, a white nationalist and Holocaust denier. Fuentes' presence at the dinner became the subject of much critical media coverage.{{cite news |last1=Caputo |first1=Marc |title=The inside story of Trump's explosive dinner with Ye and Nick Fuentes |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/story-trumps-explosive-dinner-ye-nick-fuentes-rcna59010 |access-date=30 November 2022 |work=NBC News |date=November 29, 2022 |archive-date=December 6, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221206171842/https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/story-trumps-explosive-dinner-ye-nick-fuentes-rcna59010 |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last1=McGraw |first1=Meridith |title=Donald Trump dined with white nationalist, Holocaust denier Nick Fuentes |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2022/11/25/trump-white-nationalist-nick-fuentes-kanye-00070825 |access-date=30 November 2022 |work=Politico |date=November 25, 2022 |archive-date=November 25, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221125213812/https://www.politico.com/news/2022/11/25/trump-white-nationalist-nick-fuentes-kanye-00070825 |url-status=live }} U.S. president elect Joe Biden tweeted that "our political leaders should be calling out and rejecting antisemitism wherever it hides", interpreted as a response to Republican Party leaders failing to condemn Trump hosting West and Fuentes.{{Cite web |date=2022-12-02 |title=Joe Biden condemns antisemitism following Kanye West's remarks: 'Silence is complicity' – live |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2022/dec/02/trump-jan-6-criminal-referrals-biden-william-kate-meeting-latest |access-date=2022-12-02 |website=The Guardian |language=en |archive-date=December 6, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221206150601/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2022/dec/02/trump-jan-6-criminal-referrals-biden-william-kate-meeting-latest |url-status=live }} Political correspondent Jonathan Weisman of The New York Times observed that, for American Jews, "the debate since the dinner has brought into focus what may be the most discomfiting moment in U.S. history in a half-century or more."{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/28/us/politics/trump-kanye-west-nick-fuentes-antisemitism.html|title=Jewish Allies Call Trump's Dinner With Antisemites a Breaking Point|work=The New York Times|first=Jonathan|last=Weisman|date=November 28, 2022|access-date=December 6, 2022|archive-date=December 6, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221206010342/https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/28/us/politics/trump-kanye-west-nick-fuentes-antisemitism.html|url-status=live}}

== ''Timcast IRL'' interview ==

Following the visit, West and Fuentes made an appearance on Tim Pool's Timcast IRL podcast on November 28, along with Milo Yiannopoulos. While on the podcast, West went into detail about his meeting with Trump, claiming that it was pushed from October to November by Trump after he announced his 2024 bid for presidential election as well as stating that Alex Jones told West to bring Yiannopoulos with him, who in turn introduced Fuentes as well. West also continued to make antisemitic remarks and compared his situation to that of Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X. Pool's reluctance to accept West's views angered West, who repeatedly threatened to leave the set, stating that, "I feel like it's a setup ... I'm going to walk the fuck off the show if I'm having to talk about, ‘You can't say Jewish people did it,’ when every sensible person knows — that Jon Stewart knows — what happened to me, and they took it too far."{{Cite magazine |last=Madarang |first=Charisma |date=2022-11-29 |title=Kanye Storms Off Podcast After Host Gently Pushes Back on His Antisemitism |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/kanye-west-nick-fuentes-milo-yiannopoulos-tim-pool-podcast-1234637817/ |access-date=2023-01-23 |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en-US |archive-date=January 26, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230126220853/https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/kanye-west-nick-fuentes-milo-yiannopoulos-tim-pool-podcast-1234637817/ |url-status=live }}

After one of West's statements, Pool made a minor concession to West, stating that he believed that "they" had been unfair to him; this then prompted West to ask Pool to clarify what he meant by "they," speculating (along with Fuentes) that it was a euphemism for Jews. When Pool clarified that he meant the corporate press, West, realizing that Pool would not entertain his viewpoints, abruptly left the interview and was followed by Fuentes and Yiannopoulos. Their departure was widely chastised, including by Pool himself, who continued the show afterwards, derogatorily labeling West's exit from his podcast as "woke."{{Cite web |last=Placido |first=Dani Di |title=Kanye West Storms Out Of Tim Pool Interview After Mild Pushback |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/danidiplacido/2022/11/28/kanye-west-storms-out-of-tim-pool-interview-after-mild-pushback/ |access-date=2023-01-17 |website=Forbes |language=en |archive-date=January 17, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230117024833/https://www.forbes.com/sites/danidiplacido/2022/11/28/kanye-west-storms-out-of-tim-pool-interview-after-mild-pushback/ |url-status=live }}

== ''InfoWars'' interview ==

File:Raelian symbol.svgOn December 1, 2022, West praised Hitler on InfoWars, saying "every human being has something of value that they brought to the table, especially Hitler", "I love Jewish people but I also love Nazis", "There's {{em|a lot}} of things that I {{em|love}} about Hitler; {{em|a lot}} of things", "I like Hitler", and "I am a Nazi".{{Cite web |date=1 December 2022 |title=Kanye West praises Hitler, calls himself a Nazi in unhinged interview |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/doubling-down-on-antisemitism-kanye-west-praises-hitler-in-unhinged-interview/ |access-date=2022-12-03 |website=The Times of Israel |language=en-US |archive-date=December 6, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221206071333/https://www.timesofisrael.com/doubling-down-on-antisemitism-kanye-west-praises-hitler-in-unhinged-interview/ |url-status=live }} He also stated that "we got to stop dissing the Nazis all the time", "the Jewish media has made us feel like the Nazis and Hitler have never offered anything of value to the world", and "my accounts have been frozen by the Jewish banks". West also denied the Holocaust and falsely claimed that it was "factually incorrect" that Hitler killed six million Jews.{{Cite web |last=Young |first=Alex |date=December 1, 2022 |title=Kanye West tells Alex Jones: "I see good things about Hitler" |url=https://consequence.net/2022/12/kanye-west-alex-jones-hitler/ |access-date=2022-12-01 |website=Consequence |language=en-US |archive-date=December 2, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221202005230/https://consequence.net/2022/12/kanye-west-alex-jones-hitler/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite magazine |last=Ramirez |first=Nikki McCann |date=December 1, 2022 |title=Kanye to Alex Jones: 'I Like Hitler' |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/kanye-west-alex-jones-i-like-hitler-1234639617/ |access-date=December 1, 2022 |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en-US |archive-date=December 2, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221202224746/https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/kanye-west-alex-jones-i-like-hitler-1234639617/ |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last1=Adragna |first1=Anthony |last2=Olander |first2=Olivia |title='A deranged Anti-semite': GOP outraged at Ye's latest horror show |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2022/12/01/ye-antisemitism-republicans-hitler-00071695 |access-date=2 December 2022 |work=Politico |date=December 1, 2022 |archive-date=December 6, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221206171846/https://www.politico.com/news/2022/12/01/ye-antisemitism-republicans-hitler-00071695 |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last1=Limbong |first1=Andrew |title=Ye says 'I see good things about Hitler' on conspiracy theorist Alex Jones' show |url=https://www.npr.org/2022/12/02/1140218872/ye-antisemitism-alex-jones-podcast |access-date=2 December 2022 |work=NPR |date=December 2, 2022 |archive-date=December 3, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221203002116/https://www.npr.org/2022/12/02/1140218872/ye-antisemitism-alex-jones-podcast |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last1=Levin |first1=Bess |title=Kanye West, Donald Trump's Dining Companion, Tells Alex Jones, "I'm a Nazi," Lists Things He Loves About Hitler |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2022/12/kanye-west-alex-jones-donald-trump-hitler |work=Vanity Fair |date=December 2022 |access-date=2 December 2022 |archive-date=December 3, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221203133234/http://www.vanityfair.com/news/2022/12/kanye-west-alex-jones-donald-trump-hitler |url-status=live }} Following the interview, West posted an image on Twitter of a swastika entangled within a Star of David; the symbol is associated with the Raëlian Movement.{{cite news |last1=Mohammed |first1=Leyla |title=Kanye West Leaked Messages Showing Elon Musk Told Him He'd "Gone Too Far" Before Suspending His Twitter Account For Promoting His Presidential Campaign With A Swastika |url=https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/leylamohammed/kanye-west-suspended-twitter-swastika-elon-musk |access-date=6 December 2022 |work=BuzzFeed News |date=December 2, 2022 |archive-date=December 6, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221206143248/https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/leylamohammed/kanye-west-suspended-twitter-swastika-elon-musk |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last1=Kasprak |first1=Alex |title=Did Ye's Tweet Contain the Symbol of a UFO-Based Religious Movement? |url=https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/ye-raelian-symbol/ |website=Snopes |date=December 3, 2022 |access-date=3 December 2022 |language=en |archive-date=December 6, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221206153832/https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/ye-raelian-symbol/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web|title=Kanye West suspended from Twitter after posting swastika inside the Star of David|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2022/dec/02/kanye-west-suspended-from-twitter-after-posting-swastika-inside-the-star-of-david|work=The Guardian|first=Dan|last=Milmo|date=2 December 2022|access-date=2 December 2022|archive-date=December 3, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221203223945/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2022/dec/02/kanye-west-suspended-from-twitter-after-posting-swastika-inside-the-star-of-david|url-status=live}} His Twitter account was then suspended immediately afterwards, with Twitter owner Elon Musk stating that he had violated Twitter's rules against incitement to violence.{{Cite tweet|number=1598543670990495744|user=elonmusk|title=I tried my best. Despite that, he again violated our rule against incitement to violence. Account will be suspended.|author=Elon Musk|date=2022-12-01|access-date=2022-12-01}}{{Cite web |date=2022-12-01 |title=Kanye West's Twitter account suspended by Elon Musk for incitement to violence |url=https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/article-723923 |access-date=2022-12-02 |website=The Jerusalem Post |archive-date=December 6, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221206141037/https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/article-723923 |url-status=live }}

== Gavin McInnes interview ==

On December 6, 2022, West continued to praise Hitler in an interview with Gavin McInnes, founder of the Proud Boys. He said Jewish people should "forgive Hitler today".{{Cite web |title=Kanye West calls on Jews to 'forgive Hitler' in Proud Boys interview |url=https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-724187 |access-date=December 6, 2022 |website=The Jerusalem Post |date=December 6, 2022 |language=en-US |archive-date=December 6, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221206132951/https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-724187 |url-status=live }} He compared abortion to the Holocaust, saying "the Holocaust is not the only holocaust. So for them to take that and claim when we have abortions right now. That's eugenics. That's genocide. That's a holocaust that we're dealing with right now." He repeated that Jewish people "control" the media and politics. He said that the Jewish people "control America" and "have China scared".

== Proposed ban from Australia ==

In January 2023, many Australians called for West to be banned from entering Australia over his views, including Opposition Leader Peter Dutton.{{cite web|url=https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/disgraceful-peter-dutton-doesnt-want-kanye-west-to-come-to-australia/rw901gb7x|title='Disgraceful': Peter Dutton doesn't want Kanye West to come to Australia|work=SBS News|first=Finn|last=McHugh|date=January 24, 2023|access-date=April 25, 2023|archive-date=April 25, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230425024836/https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/disgraceful-peter-dutton-doesnt-want-kanye-west-to-come-to-australia/rw901gb7x|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/kanye-should-not-be-allowed-entry-to-australia-dutton-20230124-p5cf5b.html|title=Kanye should not be allowed entry to Australia: Dutton|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|first=Paul|last=Sakkal|date=January 24, 2023|access-date=April 26, 2023|archive-date=April 25, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230425023333/https://amp.smh.com.au/national/kanye-should-not-be-allowed-entry-to-australia-dutton-20230124-p5cf5b.html|url-status=live}} Dutton told local media:

{{Blockquote|

"My inclination would be not to allow him in. His antisemitic comments are disgraceful, his conduct and behaviour is appalling and he's not a person of good character."{{Cite news|url=https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/entertainment/2023/01/rapper-kanye-west-may-be-denied-entry-into-australia-following-antisemitic-comments.html|title=Kanye West may be denied entry into Australia following antisemitic comments|newspaper=Newshub|via=www.newshub.co.nz|access-date=May 11, 2023|archive-date=May 11, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230511091937/https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/entertainment/2023/01/rapper-kanye-west-may-be-denied-entry-into-australia-following-antisemitic-comments.html|url-status=dead}}

}}

Education Minister Jason Clare also called for West to be banned from Australia, as did Victorian Industry Minister Ben Carroll.{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/en_au/news/music/minister-says-kanye-west-could-be-blocked-from-entering-australia-due-to-antisemitic-comments-3387274|title=Minister says Kanye West could be blocked from entering Australia due to antisemitic comments|work=NME|first=Tom|last=Disalvo|date=26 January 2023|access-date=28 April 2023|archive-date=April 25, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230425024449/https://www.nme.com/en_au/news/music/minister-says-kanye-west-could-be-blocked-from-entering-australia-due-to-antisemitic-comments-3387274|url-status=live}}

Organizations such as the Anti-Defamation Commission{{cite web|url=https://www.9news.com.au/national/calls-to-ban-kayne-west-from-australia-after-antisemitic-comments/6f7d1665-815c-4e56-af6a-a9eed199acc0|title=Calls to ban Kayne West from Australia after anti-Semitic comments|work=9News|date=January 24, 2023 |access-date=April 27, 2023|archive-date=April 25, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230425023659/https://amp.9news.com.au/article/6f7d1665-815c-4e56-af6a-a9eed199acc0|url-status=live}} and the Adelaide Holocaust Museum{{cite web|url=https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/adelaide-organisation-trying-to-stop-volatile-figure-kanye-west-from-entering-the-country/news-story/f4caf7dfcd0dfc8a9fb05638f77b2f50?amp|title=Adelaide organisation trying to stop 'volatile figure' Kanye West from entering the country|work=The Advertiser|first=Shashi |last=Baltutis|date=January 30, 2023|access-date=April 27, 2023}} also support banning West from entering the country.

== Informal apology ==

In an Instagram post from March 2023, West wrote, "Watching Jonah Hill in 21 Jump Street made me like Jewish people again. No one should take anger against one or two individuals and transform that into hatred towards millions of innocent people. No Christian can be labeled antisemite knowing Jesus is Jew. Thank you Jonah Hill I love you."{{Cite news |last=Hoffman |first=Jordan |date=March 25, 2023 |title=Kanye West Claims He "Likes Jewish People Again" Thanks To Jonah Hill and 21 Jump Street |work=Vanity Fair |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/style/2023/03/kanye-west-claims-to-likes-jewish-people-again-thanks-to-jonah-hill-and-21-jump-street |access-date=March 27, 2023 |archive-date=March 27, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230327152413/https://www.vanityfair.com/style/2023/03/kanye-west-claims-to-likes-jewish-people-again-thanks-to-jonah-hill-and-21-jump-street |url-status=live }}

== ''The Trouble with KanYe'' ==

In The Trouble with KanYe, a 2023 BBC-produced documentary that examines West's controversial views, Alex Klein, a former business partner of West, stated that West was "very angry" and said "I feel like I wanna smack you" and "you're exactly like the other Jews" while working with him. When he asked West if he believed Jews are collaborating with each other to hold him back, he responded by saying "Yes, yes I do."{{Cite news|last=Bachman|first=Brett|date=June 28, 2023|title=Kanye's Ex-Business Partner Airs New Antisemitism Allegations|work=The Daily Beast|url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/kanyes-ex-business-partner-alex-klein-airs-new-antisemitism-allegations-in-bbc-documentary?via=twitter_page|access-date=July 1, 2023|archive-date=July 1, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230701140204/https://www.thedailybeast.com/kanyes-ex-business-partner-alex-klein-airs-new-antisemitism-allegations-in-bbc-documentary?utm_medium=socialflow&utm_source=twitter_owned_tdb&utm_campaign=owned_social&via=twitter_page|url-status=live}} West also said that if he did not have that viewpoint, then he would not "become president."{{Cite news|last=Maheshwari|first=Disheeta|date=June 28, 2023|title=Did Kanye West threaten his former business partner Alex Klein? Here's what latter has to say|work=Pinkvilla|url=https://www.pinkvilla.com/entertainment/hollywood/did-kanye-west-threaten-his-former-business-partner-alex-klein-heres-what-latter-has-to-say-1227772|access-date=July 1, 2023|archive-date=July 1, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230701140206/https://www.pinkvilla.com/entertainment/hollywood/did-kanye-west-threaten-his-former-business-partner-alex-klein-heres-what-latter-has-to-say-1227772|url-status=live}}

== ''Vultures'' announcement ==

In December, after a period of media silence, West announced a collaboration with Ty Dolla Sign in the form of the album Vultures. The promotional single for the album featured the line "How I'm antisemitic? I just fucked a Jewish bitch", and the initial cover art for the album was called out by fans to suggest a reference to Burzum, the music project for neo-Nazi Varg Vikernes.{{Cite web |last=Earl |first=William |date=2023-11-18 |title=Kanye West Drops New Song 'Vultures,' First Track Since Antisemitic Meltdowns Ruined His Career |url=https://variety.com/2023/music/news/kanye-west-new-song-vultures-antisemitic-1235798725/ |access-date=2023-12-14 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Blake |first=Cole |date=2023-12-12 |title=Kanye West & Ty Dolla Sign's "Vultures" Artwork Traced To 19th Century Painter Caspar David Friedrich |url=https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/744017-kanye-west-ty-dolla-sign-vultures-artwork-caspar-david-friedrich |access-date=2023-12-14 |website=HotNewHipHop |language=en}} On December 15, a video featuring an expletive-ridden rant from West in a meetup went viral, in which he compared himself to Hitler and Jesus Christ, and criticized people for putting their children in "Zionist schools". He also mentioned Nicki Minaj, Jay-Z, Kim Kardashian, North West (his daughter), Drake, and Donald Trump, as well as criticized the companies Gap and Adidas.{{Cite web|first= Josh|last= Fiallo|date=2023-12-15 |title=Video Shows Kanye Spewing Antisemitic Garbage Yet Again|access-date=2023-12-15|url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/video-shows-kanye-west-spewing-antisemitic-garbage-yet-again|website=The Daily Beast|language=en}} In the same rant, West claimed that "50% of our [Black people] deaths is abortion, and 25% of us [Black people] go to prison" and that "the French own 80% of banks in Africa."{{Cite web |title=Kanye West Goes On Unhinged Rant, 'Jesus Christ, Hitler, Ye! Sponsor That!!' |url=https://www.tmz.com/2023/12/15/kanye-west-rant-las-vegas-jesus-christ-hitler-ye-sponsor-that-vultures/ |access-date=2023-12-16 |website=TMZ |date=December 15, 2023 |language=en}}

== Formal apology (2023) ==

On December 26, 2023, West left a post on Instagram in Hebrew, where he apologized for the antisemitic comments he made.{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/26/arts/music/kanye-west-apology-antisemitism.html|title=Ye Apologizes for Antisemitic Comments With Post in Hebrew|work=The New York Times|first=Christopher|last=Kuo|date=December 26, 2023|access-date=March 28, 2024}} On January 19, 2024, he appeared in an Instagram post with fellow rapper JPEGMafia wearing a shirt featuring neo-Nazi musician Varg Vikernes.{{cite web|url=https://hiphopdx.com/news/kanye-west-neo-nazi-shirt|title=Kanye West Wears Shirt With Neo-Nazi Killer Following Apology For Antisemitism|work=HipHopDX|first=Bernadette|last=Giacomazzo|date=January 20, 2024|access-date=January 21, 2024}} A month later, he complained of his children being in a "fake school" run by "the system", adding that "At this point everybody knows what 'the system' is code word for."{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/kanye-west-kim-kardashian-kids-fake-school-1235618728/|title=Kanye West Pleads With Kim Kardashian to Take Their Kids Out of 'Fake School'|magazine=Billboard|first=Michael|last=Saponara|date=February 29, 2024|access-date=February 7, 2025}}

=2025=

File:Kanye West’s controversial tweets in February 2025.jpg

In February 2025, after calling for the freeing of Combs amid sex trafficking and racketeering charges, West continued his tirade of antisemitic comments on his Twitter account. West also referenced the Elon Musk salute controversy and commended Chris Brown for overcoming cancel culture.{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/maryroeloffs/2025/02/10/kanye-wests-x-account-goes-dark-after-hitler-praising-rant-jab-at-taylor-swift/ |title=Kanye West's X Account Goes Dark After Hitler-Praising Rant, Jab At Taylor Swift |author=Mary Whitfill Roeloffs |date=February 10, 2025 |website=Forbes}}{{cite web|url=https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/kanye-west-praises-nazis-hitler-and-diddy-in-social-media-rant/article_1b165b06-e55a-11ef-9493-87aed7195286.html|title=Kanye West praises Nazis, Hitler and Diddy in social media rant|work=Toronto Star|first=Richie|last=Assaly|date=February 7, 2025|access-date=February 7, 2025}}{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/kanye-west-amid-return-to-public-eye-praises-hitler-diddy-and-chris-brown-in-hate-filled-x-rant/ | title=Kanye West, Amid Return to Public Eye, Praises Hitler, Diddy, and Chris Brown in Hate-Filled X Rant |date=February 7, 2025 |first=Matthew|last=Strauss |website=Pitchfork |access-date=February 8, 2025}} Jonathan Greenblatt of the Anti-Defamation League referred to the comments as "a sad attempt for attention that uses Jews as a scapegoat", adding, "Kanye has a far-reaching platform on which to spread his antisemitism and hate. Words matter. And as we've seen too many times before, hateful rhetoric can prompt real-world consequences."{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2025-02-07/kanye-west-antisemitic-tweets-bianca-censori-dominion-free-puff-diddy |website=Los Angeles Times |date=February 7, 2025 |first=Christie|last=D’Zurilla |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250208034031/https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2025-02-07/kanye-west-antisemitic-tweets-bianca-censori-dominion-free-puff-diddy#selection-2389.0-2389.18 |archive-date=February 8, 2025 |title=Kanye West goes on another antisemitic rant, defends Diddy, declares "dominion' over wife}} On February 7, West also posted an image purported by others to be of him, taken in 1994; in the photograph, West is seen wearing a t-shirt with a crossed out swastika and the slogan "Say no to Nazis' New America". Snopes has given the image an "unproven" rating in their investigation of the image's authenticity. When tweeting the image in 2025, West wrote "I used to be woke too".{{cite web|last=Wrona|first=Aleksandra|url=https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/ye-anti-nazi-t-shirt/|title=Photo Shows Young Ye in Anti-Nazi Shirt?|publisher=Snopes|date=February 7, 2025|orig-date=July 22, 2024}} Several of West's comments were also deemed as homophobic, ableist, and misogynistic.

On February 9, 2025, during Super Bowl LIX, West ran an ad urging viewers to visit his website, Yeezy.com.{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2025/tv/news/kanye-west-super-bowl-ad-iphone-dentist-chair-1236302214/ |website=Variety |first=Michael|last=Schneider |title=Kanye West's Bizarre Super Bowl Ad: Shot on an iPhone While Sitting in a Dentist Chair |date=February 9, 2025|access-date=February 10, 2025}} West's store page, which initially hosted merchandise dedicated to Sean Combs for sale{{cite web|url=https://www.complex.com/music/a/treyalston/ye-selling-diddy-cassie-hoodie-2016-assault |title=Ye Slammed for Selling Copies of Hoodie Cassie Wore in 2016 Video of Diddy Assaulting Her |website=Complex |first=Trey|last=Alston |date=February 9, 2025}} and various songs, was wiped on February 10, 2025, with only a shirt bearing a Nazi swastika remaining.{{cite web|url=https://yeezy.com/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250210134054/https://yeezy.com/ |archive-date=February 10, 2025 |access-date=February 10, 2025 |title=YEEZY.COM}}{{cite web|url=https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/article-841434 |website=The Jerusalem Post |title=Yeezy now sells just one product: Nazi swastika tee |date=February 10, 2025 |first= Mathilda|last=Heller|access-date=February 10, 2025}} The shirt appeared on the store front following the advertisement West ran during the Super Bowl the day prior. The shirt was titled "HH-01," presumably intended as an antisemitic dog whistle for the phrase "Heil Hitler."{{Cite web |date=2025-02-11 |title=Ye is selling T-shirts bearing a swastika on his website after local Super Bowl ad - CBS News |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ye-super-bowl-ad-t-shirt-swastika-kanye-west/ |access-date=2025-02-20 |website=www.cbsnews.com |language=en-US}}{{Cite news |last=Beaumont-Thomas |first=Ben |date=2025-02-12 |title=Kanye West sued and dropped by talent agency over antisemitic slurs |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2025/feb/12/kanye-west-sued-dropped-by-talent-agency-and-retail-platform-over-antisemitic-remarks |access-date=2025-02-20 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}} Shopify disabled West's store page the following day, stating that "This merchant did not engage in authentic commerce practices and violated our terms, so we removed them from Shopify".{{cite news |last1=Sharf |first1=Zack |title=Kanye West's Yeezy Website Down After Selling Swastika T-Shirt; Shopify Says West 'Violated Our Terms' Amid Backlash |url=https://variety.com/2025/music/news/kanye-west-yeezy-website-down-swastika-t-shirt-backlash-1236303849/ |access-date=February 11, 2025 |work=Variety |date=February 11, 2025}} The site went back online on February 13, 2025,{{Cite web |date=February 13, 2025 |title=Kanye West Announces Yeezy Stores Coming Soon On Yeezy.com |url=https://sneakernews.com/2025/02/13/kanye-west-announces-yeezy-stores-coming-soon/ |access-date=February 14, 2025 |website=SneakerNews.com}} only displaying text that reads "Yeezy stores coming soon",{{cite magazine|first=Joe|last=Price|date=February 19, 2025|title=Ye Backtracks After 'Further Reflection': 'I'm Not a Nazi'|url=https://www.complex.com/music/a/backwoodsaltar/kanye-west-backtracks-im-not-a-nazi|magazine=Complex|access-date=February 20, 2025}} followed by a heart. The text also appears in the page title.

{{multiple image

| align = right

| direction = horizontal

| width =

| total_width = 400

| image1 = BULLY_Swastika.svg

| image2 = Kanye West's proposed Sunday Service Choir logo.svg

| image3 =

| caption1 = Alternative cover art for West's visual album Bully (2025)

| caption2 = West's proposed Sunday Service Choir logo, based on the symbol of the Schutzstaffel

| caption3 =

| caption_align = center

| footer =

| footer_align = centre

| alt1 =

}}

On February 10, 2025, Elon Musk declared that West's Twitter account had been classified as NSFW due to West posting pornographic material, resulting in a shadowban. Subsequently, West's account was temporarily deactivated.{{cite web|url=https://consequence.net/2025/02/kanye-west-twitter-shut-down-elon-musk/ |title=Elon Musk Finally Pulls the Plug on Kanye West's Hate-Filled Twitter Account |website=Consequence of Sound |first=Alex|last=Young |date=February 10, 2025|access-date=February 10, 2025}} On February 19, he tweeted, "After further reflection I've come to the realization that I’m not a Nazi".{{cite magazine|first=Michael|last=Saponara|date=February 19, 2025|title='After Further Reflection,' Ye Declares: 'I'm Not a Nazi'|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/kanye-west-says-not-nazi-1235905742/|magazine=Billboard|access-date=February 20, 2025}} The sincerity of the statement was questioned by Joe Price of Complex. On February 28, he was seen walking around Los Angeles with a swastika t-shirt on.{{Cite web |last=Murray |first=Conor |title=Kanye West Wears Swastika T-Shirt Around Los Angeles, Report Says |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/conormurray/2025/02/28/kanye-west-wears-swastika-t-shirt-around-los-angeles-report-says/ |access-date=2025-03-07 |website=Forbes |language=en}} On March 6, West said that his upcoming album would have "that antisemitic sound".{{Cite magazine |last=Saponara |first=Michael |date=2025-03-06 |title=After Years of Antisemitic Rhetoric, Ye Now Declares 'My New Sound Called Antisemitic' |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/kanye-west-antisemitic-sound-album-1235917016/ |access-date=2025-03-07 |magazine=Billboard |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Winslow |first=Mike |date=2025-03-07 |title=Ye Says His New Album Has "Antisemitic Sound" |url=https://allhiphop.com/news/ye-new-album-antisemitic-sound/ |access-date=2025-03-07 |website=AllHipHop |language=en-us}}{{Cite web |last=Nevares |first=Gabriel Bras |date=2025-03-06 |title=Kanye West Declares New Album "Bully" Has That "Antisemitic Sound" |url=https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/891858-kanye-west-new-album-bully-antisemitic-sound-hip-hop-news |access-date=2025-03-07 |website=HotNewHipHop |language=en}} On March 15, he once again identified as a Nazi.{{Cite web |last= Moore|first= Sam|date=March 15, 2025 |title=Kanye West Defends Being A Nazi With 'Bisexual' Comparison|url=https://hiphopdx.com/news/kanye-west-defends-nazi-bisexual-comparison|access-date=March 15, 2025|website=HipHopDX|language=en-us}} On March 16, he tweeted images of a Nazi swastika and the SS runes of the Schutzstaffel, claiming them as his "new album cover" and "new Sunday Service Choir logo", respectively.{{Cite web |last=Nevares |first=Gabriel Bras |date=2025-03-16 |title=Kanye West Unveils Nazi-Inspired Logos For New Album "Bully" Cover Art & Sunday Service |url=https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/894601-kanye-west-nazi-logos-new-album-bully-cover-art-sunday-service-hip-hop-news |access-date=2025-03-16 |website=HotNewHipHop |language=en}} On March 17, he posted a now deleted video of him with Nick Fuentes on X while wearing a chain with a swastika pendant. In the video, West called Fuentes "my white supremacist homeboy".{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/kanye-west-nick-fuentes-swastika-b2717548.html|title=Kanye outrageously preens poses in a swastika chain with white supremacist Nick Fuentes|work=The Independent|first=Mike|last=Bedigan|date=March 18, 2025|access-date=March 19, 2025}}

====Antisemitic songs and lyrics: "WW3", "Heil Hitler", and Cuck ====

File:Adolf Hitler- Speech at Krupp Factory in Germany (1935) - British Pathé.webm that was sampled by West in the video for the song "Heil Hitler"|The speech by Adolf Hitler that was sampled by West in the video for the song "Heil Hitler"]]

On March 24, West uploaded a new song to his X account dubbed "WW3" which featured a set of lines going "They telling me that I'm a bully, I'm antisemitic fully. They sayin' I'm acting like Hitler, but how am I acting like Hitler? When I'm a fucking nigger." "WW3" was later released on streaming services under a new recording alias, "Ye". On March 30, West joined blogger and Internet personality DJ Akademiks for an interview.{{cite news |last= |first= |date=3 April 2025 |title=Kanye West's New Album WW3 Tracklist Features 'Hitler' Twice |url=https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/kanye-west-album-ww3-tracklist-091001652.html |work=Yahoo News |location= |publisher= |access-date=May 8, 2025}} In the interview, West donned a black outfit inspired by the Ku Klux Klan and continued to make antisemitic remarks.{{cite news |last=Dunworth |first=Liberty |date=31 March 2025 |title=Kanye West wears KKK outfit with swastika necklace as he says he "didn't want to have kids" with Kim Kardashian in new interview |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/kanye-west-wears-kkk-outfit-with-swastika-necklace-as-he-says-he-didnt-want-to-have-kids-with-kim-kardashian-in-new-interview-3850610 |work=NME |location= |publisher= |access-date=May 8, 2025}}

On April 3, West teased a new album titled "WW3." On the tracklist, there was the previously mentioned title track, and two new songs. "Heil Hitler" and "Hitler Ye and Jesus". West said the album was co-produced by fellow rapper Dave Blunts. On April 21, West said he changed the album name to Cuck.{{cite news |last=Bras Nevares |first=Gabriel |date=8 May 2025 |title=Kanye West Takes Controversy Even Further In New Music Video For "Heil Hitler" |url=https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/909223-kanye-west-music-video-heil-hitler-hip-hop-news |work=HotNewHipHop |location= |publisher= |access-date=8 May 2025}} On April 30, West appeared on live-streaming platform Parti with streamers Sneako and N30N. On this stream, West previewed a new song called "Heil Hitler." The song alludes to West referring to himself once again as a Nazi, and alluding to the reason that he either adopted or began to be open with his ideology is due to his inability to see his children. Lyrics include "With all of the money and fame I still don't get to see my children..." "...So I became a Nazi yea, bitch I'm the villain." "Nigga Heil Hitler, they don't understand the things I say on Twitter, all my niggas Nazis, nigga Heil Hitler." On May 7, Sneako and DJ Akademiks live-streamed together where they previewed the music video for "Heil Hitler". The video features 32 dark-skinned models, some donned with animal skins chanting the lyrics of the song. The video closes with an excerpt of a 1935 speech from Adolf Hitler himself, given at the Krupp Factory in Essen.{{cite web|url=https://www.britishpathe.com/asset/90391/ |website=British Pathé |date=1935 |title="If you consider the work I'm doing to be right, if you think I have been diligent, that I have worked, that I have advocated for you this year, that I have spent my time honestly in the service of my people, then cast your vote! If so, then stand up for me like I have stood up for you!"}}{{cite news |last1=Sadler |first1=Armon |title=Ye Shares Militant Music Video For "Heil Hitler" |url=https://www.vibe.com/music/videos/kanye-west-heil-hitler-music-video-1235068341/ |access-date=8 May 2025 |work=VIBE Magazine |date=8 May 2025}} A previous version of the song is quoted as referencing rapper Drake as a "faggot", which has been referred to as a diss; "Niggas be acting like faggots so much, I think they might be Drake."{{Cite web |last=Fisher |first=Caroline |date=2025-04-06 |title=Kanye West Takes A Shot At Drake In Bizarre New "Heil Hitler" Snippet |url=https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/900169-kanye-west-drake-snippet-hip-hop-news |access-date=2025-05-17 |website=HotNewHipHop |language=en}}

==Twitter apology==

On May 22, West tweeted that he was "done with antisemitism" following a FaceTime call with his children. He asked God to "forgive me for the pain I've caused" and said that he forgave those who caused him pain,{{cite magazine |last1=Saponara |first1=Michael |title=Ye Claims He's 'Done With Antisemitism': 'Forgive Me for the Pain I've Caused' |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/kanye-west-done-with-antisemitism-1235978704/ |magazine=Billboard |access-date=May 22, 2025 |date=May 22, 2025}} though some questioned the sincerity of his apology.https://aish.com/kanyes-bogus-apology/ Vibe wrote that it was unclear if this "reflect[ed] genuine growth or an attempt at image repair".{{cite web |last1=Brown |first1=Preezy |title=Ye Asks For God's "Forgiveness," Says He's Done With Antisemitism |url=https://www.vibe.com/news/entertainment/kanye-west-god-forgiveness-disavows-antisemitism-1235072100/ |website=Vibe |access-date=May 22, 2025 |date=May 22, 2025}} On May 31, he re-uploaded "Heil Hitler" as "Hallelujah", which replaces references to Nazism with lyrics relating to Christianity.{{Cite web |last=Paul |first=Bryson "Boom" |date=2025-05-31 |title=Kanye West Drops Holy Version Of His Controversial 'Heil Hilter' Song |url=https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/916095-kanye-west-drops-holy-version-heil-hilter-hip-hop-news |access-date=2025-06-01 |website=HotNewHipHop |language=en}} However, on June 1st, after referencing that Shopify allegedly owes him money from when his store page (featuring the aforementioned swastika shirt) was taken down, he made a tweet that appears to subtly reference that the people who "run" Shopify are Jewish, as an apparent antisemitic attack on the company.{{Cite tweet |author=Ye |date=1 June 2025 |user=kanyewest |title=Just to put it in question form[...]Who do you think Shopify is ran by 🧐🤔|number=1929042696519229571 }} The current president of Shopify, Harley Finkelstein, is Jewish and is the grandson of Holocaust survivors.

References

{{reflist}}