|
The New York Times, which first reported the
meeting, said it took place in Colorado last weekend and also
included President Donald Trump's daughter Ivanka, Kushner's
wife and another top White House adviser.
West appeared to confirm the meeting in a tweet late Tuesday
night, saying they discussed a book on empowering Black
Americans, and he offered to do a live interview with the Times.
Representatives for West could also not be immediately reached.
A rapper and clothier, West announced his last-minute
presidential campaign last month, followed by a series of
rambling public remarks that have raised questions about his
intentions and his mental health.
West has been open about his struggle with bi-polar disorder,
and his wife, Kim Kardashian has asked the public and media to
grant him compassion.
West's appearance as an independent on the ballot could possibly
disrupt the race between Trump, a Republican who is seeking
re-election, and former Democratic Vice President Joe Biden if
he were able to garner any votes in U.S. states where the
contest is close.
The Washington Post last week reported that West's campaign has
so far filed petitions to appear on the presidential election
ballot in 10 U.S. states and that Republican operatives,
including some with ties to Trump, were involved in efforts to
support his candidacy in at least five of them, including
Arkansas, Ohio and Wisconsin.
Trump on Tuesday told syndicated radio host Hugh Hewitt that he
had not talked with West about the entertainer's campaign.
Representatives for Trump's campaign could not be immediately
reached but told the Post they were not involved.
West, 43, one of the biggest celebrity and most prominent Black
supporters of the president, met with Trump during the 2016
presidential race and again in 2018 at the White House wearing a
red "Make America Great" cap. Last month, he told Forbes that he
was "taking the red hat off."
Trump told Fox News last month that West "can't" drop his
support, adding: "He's always going to be for us."
(Additional reporting by Steve Holland; Writing by Susan Heavey;
Editing by Aurora Ellis)
[© 2020 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.] Copyright 2020 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content.
|
|
